SCHOOL: I started this term feeling very overwhelmed, feeling like a new teacher again, and feeling like I had to ask for help or explanation for almost everything. In the last two weeks I can say I am felt more relaxed about programming and have been having a lot of laughs each day with colleagues and my students. I am now more than the teacher from Canada for my students and have really been able to get to know a lot about some of them and form those important teacher student relationships that will last forever. I can say though that I will never complain about a PD day back home as although I have gotten used to the PD/meetings after and before school here, I will really enjoy those PD days back home during school hours while the students stay home. I have finally gotten used to the extras each week such as community language, scripture, assemblies (sometimes 3) and many other things and I am told now my timetable will change again in term two. This last week has been a crazy one with lots of fun. Wednesday was Girraween Show Day was fantastic and such a huge event that was so much fun to be part of. Thursday I got dressed up and participated in the staff versus students volleyball game. I am working at a not so sport based school and these kids just had so much fun playing "volleyball" against the teachers.I did show my kids in my class after some pictures of what real volleyball looks like and they were very impressed. Friday, the last day of the term, we did a bit of Easter fun and then the teachers got to go out for a celebratory dinner. I am happy to say I am feeling much more relaxed about the upcoming term, although not sure how I will feel after 29 reports.
LIFE: Life is busy! We have all settled into routine and are working at balancing all that we want to do compared to my energy level after a work week. Being that we live in Sydney there is so much to do around here within an hour drive that we have so many options. We are checking off adventures every weekend. I am loving Parramatta and exploring the area. I lucked out and found a great gym to go to and am excited to get back to it after the break. I work with great people and I am excited to get out with them more as the year goes on. Maëlle has had a fantastic first part of year one and is loving school. We have both noticed so much growth in her and for all those back home you would notice mostly that she is way more confident. She has spoken in front of her whole school at assemblies and her teacher has nothing but good things to say about her and her creativity. She has decided to take a break from swimming for a bit as it was just too late at night after a full day of school. She loved the swim meet that she competed in and did her first relay. The crew will continue to swim with coach daddy each week just earlier in the evening. Malia has grown (up) a lot since we arrived. She is in groups three days a week and is quiet, but full of personality. She is starting to learn some letters and is pretending to read like her sister. Matt has been running, running and more running. He has managed to get to activities, shop and play with the Chariot. He is playing Ultimate and getting to really put time into cooking (YUMMY!).FAMILY: We are doing this together. Matt has been fantastic and has been embracing everything about being here, especially when I am exhausted and tired. He is our travel planner, cleaner and executive chef. He has had a lot of patience with my work load and the girls full time while I am busy planning and trying to stay on top of everything. The girls are getting along for the most part and have been doing fantastic with less.
MISSING HOME: DEFINITELY. Enough said.
I miss each and everyone of you. FaceTime, Skype, iMessage and WhatsApp are fantastic. I love getting to check Facebook and Instagram (even Twitter occasionally) to see what everyone is up to back home. The girls talk about their friends all the time, it is very cute. The packages in the mail make them so excited and it could be anything! Maëlle is wanting to write letters to mail home so we will try and get on it!SLANG and MY ACCENT: Well were I am teaching I am definitely getting exposed to a few different languages and I am guessing I am going to come back with a mix of Australian and Indian accent combined with my Canadian one. It is not as often that I say the "wrong thing" or someone points it out at least. My students still giggle from time to time and I still stop and think often in the staffroom and classroom. I am starting to use some of the Aussie slang naturally now, but for some reason people still smile when I use it.
Off to the Blue Mountains we go! Granny is here and we are so excited!
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