Our first Canadian Visitor

Granny/ Mom has arrived!

We all were so looking forward to having a bit of family here with us. By far the hardest part has been missing those you usually have been so close, both friends and family. The girls were so excited with a count down for days before she arrived. I was so excited I got up and looked at the flight info and thought she was an hour early and headed to the airport really early as I was looking at the wrong day for the flight and the next day was taking into consideration the time change that was happening that night.

Granny arrived at the end of term 1 for me and Maëlle. Maëlle was full of energy but looking forward to a break and mom was exhausted but also ready for a break as well.

Granny has been busy keeping up with the girls and Matt, reading Robert Munsch books over and over that she brought for the girls, and eating Matt's fantastic food.

Sick Day- AGAIN

I am now sick for the second time in the first term. Those that know me back home have said you never get sick. True back home, but not here. This time it appears as if hopefully all I have is a form of strep, although I have to go back to the doctor to check on a gland that is swollen under my chin that is not too normal.

Now for my frustration. Why am I getting sick. I really do not like this. Is it just adjusting to new environment, the stress of work (which I had back home too) or just go go going too much. Time to slow down. This first break can't come fast enough is what my body is telling me.

For now I am going to rest all day and get back at it. I am really looking forward to having my mom here to look after me. I have found a gym and loved it this week, so hope to be better fast to get back in shape.

Of a side note, thank you to all who have messaged about cyclone Debbie, we are not close to it.

Back to bed I go.


Sick update: Sick again!!! Tonsillitis taking over. Round 2 of antibiotics better do the trick.

Doing a lot with a little in a foreign land

Over the last 4+ years I have called myself a stay at home dad but until we arrived in Australia and Kellie started working I wasn’t a true stay at home dad as I always had my job (even though it rarely felt like one).  

We have moved halfway around the world to live in the 2nd most expensive city in the world (behind Hong Kong) and somehow we are supposed to live off of 1 income (a Canadian teachers income at that which to me is very decent but in reality pretty average and roughly 20k less per year then a local teacher).  We are to explore this new amazing country while keeping the kids grounded and in some activities to make it feel like home.  All of this while trying to save enough to live off of and travel with essentially no income for the following 6-8 months.

Rereading this it sounds quite daunting.  I won’t even get into what it’s like to try to keep up with (and let go of) running and still owning a small business back home.   

We’ve traded in 2 cars back home for 1 here plus some bus passes (cars are not expensive but insurance and gas etc are).  We’ve traded 2 cell phones for 1 (one of the few things that are cheaper here).  I mostly get around on foot and I shop around lots for grocery deals (there are lots of options being in a big city).

Somehow it is all kind of working and this new adventure has been good for the soul and reinvigorated my passion for cooking (a big cost saver) and helped me to explore other new avenues (I recently gave sewing a go).  

I think every parent would benefit from being a homemaker on a budget.  A budget doesn’t need to look the same for everyone and I think it’s more fun and rewarding when you do it because you want to as opposed to have to.  For us we are doing it so that we can have as many different opportunities here and in our travels home as possible for our family; so the better we do the more fun we get to have :)  

Harmony Day - We all belong

Mural made for Harmony Day

Today was Harmony Day in Australia. I got to enjoy seeing my students in "orange" and not their school uniforms for the day. Talk about excited kids. We have so many theme days back home that I don't think they get this excited to wear something special. Here are some pictures from the day. Harmony day is about celebrating differences and learning about new cultures. I read a great Mem Fox book to my class and we had a great time discussing where we all came from. Our school's theme was "Our Island Home" and my students discovered and discussed the many different homes they have and what makes a home. I have students who have come from many parts of the world and it was nice to get to know whey they left their home to come to Australia. Some of their stories are amazing.

Part of the Harmony Day display made by students

Like my little person representing me from Canada. Shows where our students come from at our school.

Why orange?
Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Day. Orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Also if you ask my students it means getting to eat oranges and carrots for snacks and wearing orange to school.

Learning is a lot of fun

Sometimes teachers get to play and have fun after school while learning too! LEGO WE.DO training was a great time for all after school this week. I am thinking that once we become a K-6 school we should do this with the younger grades back home. It was a lot of fun. I am excited to do with my class this week.

It has been raining a lot lately! When it rains it pours is very true in Sydney. We have got our fill of rain in the last few weeks. On the school side I have finished my program review and am continuing to learn and be trained in new things each week. This week I tackle PLAN data.

Today Maëlle did her first presentation at school for a science project on mixtures. She made a cheese spread and brought in cheese spread on wraps for her class. She proudly told me that she used the boys feedback before her to help with her presentation and held her paper lower. She also said she needs to work on volume (no surprise) and her eye contact was great! Her reading is improving everyday. Considering she had no formal English reading instruction this is pretty good!

Her Harmony Day picture she made. Pretty cute if I do say so. She is already better that me at the Australian anthem. Singing it most nights as she dances around the house.

Harmony day this is the language I speak, Bonjour.

Oh and Matt has been giving his go at making a backpack carrier for Malia for our trip to the Blue Mountains and for travelling after Australia. He has been trying sewing, but his latest was using one of his backpacks with Malia. 

The week that pulled on my emotions

This was the week that I have felt the most emotions. I am loving Australia and the things that we are able to to do and see, but this week was a big one for some reason of missing the things of home. You just miss them no matter how much fun you might be having is what I am discovering. Driving home from work after a long day I would find myself longing for that after school chat about school, my kids or even Matt.  The coffee shop after kid bedtime chats, the girls nights with mom group friends and school friends. Also the playdates with the "girls friends" that really was a chance for me to talk with my friends.  I didn't know how much I would miss home and the verdict this week was ALOT!

I am making friends here and school is making more sense. I have great colleagues at work that are the best thing about the work part of the exchange. My family is closer and we are stronger because of this experience already. Matt has been amazing in supporting my increased at the moment workload and different expectations that are being put on me.

Trip to the conference- very busy

This week I did a lot as well. Had meet the teacher, got training in a new program (both Tuesday) and got to attend the exchange teacher conference with at the other exchange teachers from around the world (Friday).  I am proud to say that I navigated the public transit to and from the conference by myself.

Made it to the conference

Trip home from conference

Exchange teachers eagerly learning

At the exchange conference we learned about alot again. Mostly though that each of us is having much of the same experience. Both the struggles and the successes.  Settling into a new house, community and work environment is both hard and exciting. All could agree that the students are still students, but the job is different and the expectations and routines are varying levels of different from home.

 My family pretty much continued on with their routine:
Monday- groceries and school
Tuesday- Library class and school
Wednesday- Gardening class, school and swim club
Thursday- gymnastics, school
Friday- ultimate frisbee  and school

We did have our first new friend over on Saturday this week for a playdate. Matt met the mom at one of the events in Parramatta before school started and the girl ended up going to the same school as Maëlle. 

Elsa's first trip to the beach

Elsa cleans her legs

Elsa gets buried in sand

Elsa needs to get the sand off!

Elsa gets a bath

Time to wash Elsa's hair

Elsa goes for a swim!

She found OLAF!!