M is for Mitten

July 29th

Since Jill's classroom was going to pretty much be doing spelling tests all moring, I decided to go check out one of the special education classrooms. This school has about 5 different classes that are designated special education, which I found to be quite a lot ! The one that I was in had about 8 kids in either kindergarten or 1st grade, all of which were diagnosed with some degree of Autism. I thought they were all great, and it made me wonder if I should have specialized in special education. One of the kids I was told didn't talk unless he thought it suited him, but apparently talking to me suited him just fine. He brought up a puzzle and started to name all of the animals that were on it, then not to much later he brought me a monkey and started to rub it on my face. H ewas too cute, I am hoping to be able to go back to that classroom before I leave.

After recess it was time for me to go back to the class that I have normally been in and do a little mini-lesson on where I am from. I read them the book "M is for Mitten", passed around some postcards, and the petoskey stone that I brought to give to my host teacher. While I was reading the book I stopped to explain the different things that it was talking about and was able to relate some of them back to familiar things that they could relate to here. I also got lots of hands up with different questions, some of which were relevant and many were not, but thats ok, I think they still enjoyed learning a little more about me and where I'm from (plus I sound funny lol).

On the calender in the staff room for today it says "Please Use Bins" which is code for PUB! haha They apparently use this phrase when talking about going out to have a drink after work or what they did on the weekends, just in case there are students around. So, after school today we all met up at a place called The Mean Fiddler to get drinks and of course WEDGES! I think I might have to bring home some sweet chili sauce :) At one point while we were sitting there, there was a man that came over to sell raffle tickets to win a meat tray. Jillian told the man that if she bought tickets she had to win because she NEVER wins thing, and low and behold she had the winning ticket! The man said that there was over $50 worth of meat on the tray, it was quite massive lol.

Once everyone had eaten they all pretty much just left, so I guess it was time for us to head back home as well. The rest of the night was pretty chill and we all sat around watching "The Sweetest Thing" for a while, until we all gradually headed off to bed. I think that I stayed up a while to skype with Madre which is always a nice way to end the night :)

Fish and Prossy Spotting!!

July 28th

Today started out with a boring meeting before school lol. They just took turns talking about whatever anouncemets that they needed to make. As far as what we did in class today we pretty much just worked on an art project all day. I was a little surprised to see that, but I guess next week is "education week" and the parents are allowed to come into the classroom to see what they have been doing in class. They worked on a really cute fish, that had you put scales made out of cupcake papers cut into fours. Once they finished the actual fish, they painted a background for it on a piece of paper. Jill let me make one myself and gave me a copy of the cutout they used, so that I could have the option to use the project myself one day.

After school we went to the shops again to finish getting supplies for some other projects that she has planned for the rest of the week and next week. Then we had plans to go out to dinner with one of Jillian's friends but she decided to go to the movies or something instead; but we went out anyways. We headed into town and went to a nice little bar to get some Wedges, Sour Cream, and Sweet Chili sauce (my new favorite) and had a cider to go along with it. After that we decided to head to get some real food and eat at a Thai restaurant. I naturally ordered Pad Thai with chicken, but even though this was a really nice place I think I still prefer the little hole in the wall Bancok Star in Port Huron.

On the way home Jill pointed out the direction that she said she would normally go to get home but that we were taking a little detour through King's Cross to go "Prossy Spotting!!". Apparently this meant that we were going to look for prostitutes haha. So, as we creeped slowly in her car through King's Cross we managed to spot three "Prossys" ! One of which we were pretty sure was a man lol. After all of this excitement it was time to go home and get some sleep :)

Another School day

July 27th

Before school today all of the stage 1 (1st and 2nd grade) teachers got together to share some ideas, which I thought was great! I think it is important to collaborate and pass on ideas you have to one another rather than just locking yourself up in your own little classroom with your own students.
As the students started to make their way into the classroom one of them presented me with a very colorful  card that they made for me! I love when I get stuff like this :)First thing we did as usual was our reading groups. However, I must admit, I kicked some butt playing a homophone memory game with my reading group today haha. I've still got it! I remember mom use to hate playing that game with me ! After that they moved on to their Phonics routine, which I admit I find a bit odd. The teacher holds flashcards up with various phonemes and they all "chant" together the different sounds that it can make and then sometimes even say the number of letters it is to clarify things such as "f" and "ph". Definitely a new method that I'm not familiar with.

They also have this think called "sip and crunch". It is a designated time in class when the students are go get out fruits and/or veggies with water or juice while they work; in our class they get read to during this time. I guess this is to promote healthy eating? These kids also have scripture inlcuded into their schedule, which I found to be a bit of a surprise since this is a public school. The students get split up into groups based on their religion and those who don't have one or theirs isn't offered go to a room that is for non-scripture where they are just given busy work.

After school we headed to the mall so Jill could find some crafty items for the art projects the kids are working on. While she did that Katie and I headed to the bookstore to see if we could find some books with Australian authors. No such luck there but I did find a really cute book about fall that I'm really excited about for some reason. There falls here aren't the same as ours, even though it's winter a majority of their trees still have their leaves on them.

For dinner, Katie and I got to experience our first meat pie. I must admit I was a little nervous to try something called a meat pie, but it actually wasn't too bad! It seemed to me to basically be a pie filled with sloppy joe stuff. I told Jill this and she looked at me funny wondering what exactly as sloppy joe was. I guess here they call sweatshirts without hoods "sloppy joes" haha. I can see how this might be a little confusing. After dinner Katie and I decided it would be a good idea to go downstairs by the fireplace (its actually warm here!!) and do the hw that we had due that night and Sunday since we probably wouldn't have much time to do it the rest of the week.

Still Lovin' it !

Today I got to see more of what a normal day of school looked like. The students were in uniform, had actual subjects and there wasn't a Giant rugby player to distract them. I got to help with another reading group again today, and also with some of the math work that they were working on.I am hoping to actually teach a lesson or two before I leave, I'm just not exactly sure what or when; its possible I get to teach a science lesson :)

On thing I got to witness today was the students Mandarin lesson. Once a week they have a teacher come in at teach them Chinese for about 40minutes, but I must say it was quite interesting. The teacher that I am working with, isn't the biggest fan of it but the kids really dont seem all to interested and goof off a lot, so I could see why. This particular school actually has four classes that are considered bilingual and are taught in both Mandarin and English; they are expecting to have up to 6 of them by next year!

Once we got home Katie, Jillian and I just sat around and talked over tea (cran, strawberry, raspberry tea it was delicious!). Oh! and I also introduced Jillian to "peopleofwalmart.com" haha simply because there was someone in the staff room talking about it so I couldn't help but show her some of the ridiculous pictures that are on there. Eventually it was time for dinner which was some sort of roast and veggies which was really good! We also broke down and ate some ice cream later too :) Eventually I had to also do the interview with her that I have been putting off a bit. I'm really not liking the fact that I have 5 assignments to do before I leave, I really would just like to enjoy myself!

Funny story... While working with one of  the students with their math worksheet, I asked if I could use her eraser. She replied with "what!?" So I tried asking her again, and then a kid across from her said oh a razer like this!? as he held up a pencil sharpener. I then tried to explain that I wanted something to make the pencil disappear and they replied with..."Ooohhh!! a Rubber!!" haha I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that something so simple was called something else (with such a different meaning at that).

First day in an Aussie Classroom :)

I got to wake up nice and early today to get ready for my first day of 1st/2nd grade at Rouse Hill Primary School! Those of us who were placed here had a little talk with the principal and a tour of the school which is quite large with 900 some students K-6. The schools here are set up a little differently when it comes to how it is set up; rather than having one big building, they have multiple buildings that require you to walk outside to get from classroom to classroom. Also, their playgrounds have a roof over them in order to protect the kids from the sun, since skin cancer is such a big problem in Australia. The kids also are sometimes required to wear hats when they go outside. Once it was time for school to start all of the students were gathered for an assembly before heading to the classrooms, and at this they decided to welcome all of the American teachers from MSU that were there.

Typically the students would be required to wear a uniform to school, however today was apparently a really big day in the fact that a famous Rugby League player named Jarryd Hayne was coming! Many of the kids were all dressed in their blue and yellow jerseys and anything else that had to do with the "Parramatta Eels". One of the kids in my class was all decked out in a full on mini uniform since his Dad is apparently one of the coaches for the team (he was too cute!). After helping with the reading groups first thing, they were all excited that they got to decorate a poster to hold up for when this Jarryd guy came into the classroom. It's funny to see people get all worked up about a player and game that I no nothing about! I had to explain to one of the girls that I had never even seen a Rugby game because it's not really that big in America.

Eventually it was time for Morning Tea/Recess. The kids got to eat some of their snack in class and then take anything left out to recess with them while Jillian and I went to the staff room for our own morning tea since we didn't have recess duty. I don't remember the exact amount of time that we had but i remember thinking that it was a fairly long little break that we got! Then only an hour or so later it's time for lunch which was also quite long compared to the lunches that I'm use to in school. After school we had to go to a professional development meeting, which apparently happens every Monday. Though the meeting was a bit on the boring side I think it's great that they have these sorts of meetings that often, it's a nice way to see that everyone is on the same page.

Finally the meeting was over and we all got to go home. We came home to find Margret and Granny gone and just Don and Wilson relaxing at home. Today for dinner we had some sort of spaghetti and meatballs with curry ? I'm not exactly sure what it was but it was good! I had a glass of wine with dinner and we all sat around talking about education and various other things. I have to interview Jillian by wednesday but i feel like I have been doing that since I got here! I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to ask, but I should probably get going on that!

Meeting of the Host Family :)

July 24th
Today was the day that I got to move out of the dorms and meet the teacher and family that I will be staying with for the next few weeks ! I must admit standing around the corner waiting for them to tell us to come find the nametag of the person we would be staying with was a bit nerve wrecking! However, I was pretty sure that I was going to like them even after a few minutes of talking to them. My host is a 27yr old 1st and 2nd grade teacher named Jillian who lives with both her parents and their dog Wilson (who is also pretty cool). After our brief meeting and morning tea we were off to see how much luggage we could cram in to her moms car, then it was off to see our new home.

Jillian had a field hockey team to play in after they came to meet us so her mom was the one to drive us to our new home. The car ride back to their house was really weird simply for the fact that I was in the passenger’s seat, which is our driver’s side! Not only that but there was often a moment of panic when I thought she was turning into the wrong lane! Their house at the end of a cul-de-sac and is super cute! Katie and I both have our own rooms and will be sharing a bathroom. It is a bit odd though, due to the fact that the toilet is in its own little closet like room and the shower and sink are across the hall. Also, they don’t keep the heat in either of those rooms, so I dread sitting on the toilet seat because it is so freaking cold!! Their backyard is also pretty cute. there is a little deck and fish pond, and then near the fence they have lemon, orange, and cumquat trees!

Once we were settled in a bit, Margret (Jillian’s Mom) made us some lunch which was pumpkin soup! I had never had it before but it was actually quite good! Not too long after, Margret and Don (Jillian’s Dad), took Katie and I on a little hike through the bush (finally found out what she meant by this in her email) at the end of their road. The trail through this wooded area was I must say quite beautiful. Even though it is winter, most of the trees keep their leaves so it is still very full of life and running water. I cannot wait to go back their again and take pictures while making my way through everything! We didn’t see any snakes or spiders while we were out there though, which they said that they rarely see any snakes; so no worries Mom! J We did see however some pretty cool birds, birds which make ours seem pretty pathetic. We saw some kookaburras, cockatoos, and other colorful birds that I don’t remember the names of lol. 

Shortly after we arrived back at the house Jillian came home from her game and we made our way back into the house and basically chitchatted about a lot of random things just trying to get to know one another. Jillian’s “Granny” was also at the house. Her Granny and Mom are leaving tomorrow to go on a cruise, which Margret feels terrible about leaving us here, but I guess they booked these plans before they knew that we were coming. There family is too cool though, especially Granny. They kept telling her what to do and picked on her a bit but she was pretty feisty and was able to give it back; which reminds me a lot of my Grandma and I love it!

Eventually it was time for dinner and we all made homemade pizza together with all sorts of different options for toppings. I eventually gave in and had a drink with them while we were waiting, and chose sweet cider which was very good; so was the pizza! Jillian couldn’t stay long after dinner though because she had another field hockey game later that night that she had to make her way to. After talking some more it was eventually time to head off to my room and write my blog for today, which I had to write in a word document because they couldn’t remember what their wireless password was. Getting pretty excited to head be in a classroom tomorrow though!

Sydney Swans!

Win for Sydney Swans over the Western Bulldogs!

Finally caught up on my days, and blogging!

Today we actually got to sleep in a bit! Then it was time to attempt to find our way to the arena that would be holding an Australian Football League (AFL) game or "Footy" as they like to call it here. We weren't really sure where we were going so we were sure to look up and write down all of the trian information that we needed before we left. Except, there seemed to be something wrong with those directions; when we got off at one of our transfer spots we noticed that there were people wearing Sydney Swans gear that were still sitting on the train, so we quickly jumped back on since we figured that they knew where they were going more than we did! Come to find out that one of the girls was sent an email saying that the location was changed but apparently we were the only ones that go this memo. We decided to creepily follow what the people wearing red and white were doing and eventually one of them turned around and asked if we were following them, and we confessed! However, they were very nice and made sure that we followed the right way and eventually struck up friendly conversation with us about where we were from and what we knew about Footy (which was pretty much nothing). So they tried to fill us in a bit about what would be going on .

Australian rules football is really a mix between football, soccer and even a little volleyball. There are four poles at each end of the field; two taller poles in the middle and two smaller on either side. If the ball is kicked between the middle two poles its six points and if it hits a pole or is between the outer two its one point. The ball can only be kicked, lightly tossed or "punched" (kinda like volleyball) to other players, and you cannot run to far with the ball without bouncing it once and a while. This is a full contact sport and you are allowed to tackle one another, however keep in mind that they wear no helmets or padding at all! This sport seems to require much more endurance and athleticism than the NFL; these guys are solid muscle! One guy told us that they can run up to 10miles in one game. And I must admit have very nice rumps :) haha. Needless to say this game was very fast paced and a lot of fun to watch!

After the game we made our way back to central station and found a place to eat, which apparently wasn't such a great find. One of the girls that was with us has a very stricked diet to follow due to some sort of stomach issue and they were quite rude to her and eventually the rest of us. They were quite slow, even though they weren't all that busy, and managed to get a lot of our orders wrong in some way or another. We were discussing the fact that though there are endless amounts of friendly people around Australia, people in services tend not to be, and we were wondering if it had something to do with the fact that they are not tipped at all like we do in the states.

Now It's time to pack up my stuff here at Macquarie Uni. I am meeting my host teacher tomorrow morning and will be staying with her the majority of the time I have left here. I'm a bit nervous! but excited to finally get into the classrooms this monday :)