The search for an apartment reaches crisis levels

Last night I got in from my second day as a professional teacher and was met with a madhouse (this should be the collective noun) of children and a brash Australian.

Larry's (may as well have been called Bruce) opener to me was, and I quote, 'Geez, I didn't think they made them that big in Ireland!' He then followed this up with commenting on what my mum gave me to eat that made me grow. I told him it was the same thing that she gave my brother, and obviously the same thing my granny gave my dad.

Sensing that he wasn't on to an winner of a conversation, he moved onto 'So what colour are you? Orange or green?' When I gave a non committal answer, he didn't let go. No, no, he asked what football team I supported.

Geez Larry I didn't think they made them that culturally unaware in Australia!

Day one as a pro-teacher

Maybe a bit late, but here are some photos from the past week.


That'll be my plane!


The new students finished off their orientation with a campfire. Why? It's hot enough here thank you.

My school is part of a network of schools and on Saturday morning we had the joy of Staff Dedication Service. This is just the staff of the school, no guests or extras. Pretty big eh?

This is my classroom. You'll note the tidy desk, computer (sitting at it right now), sliding whiteboards with shelving in behind, and data projector. Just to the left of the projector is my best friend, the air con unit.

I'm on the 3rd floor and this is the view from the outside corridor outside my room. Look Dad, decking! The big building on the right is the admin building on the ground floor and the assembly building on the 1st floor. The admin building is where I have to pick up all my printing and I already resent having to walk that far to get it.

So there you go, other things I should mention are:

-yesterday I had to get the bus into school all by myself. This was the first time I had done it and of course it wasn't that simple. I got off about 5 stops too early, walked half a mile thinking school was closer than it really was, waited for another lucky bus number 75 and subsequently was about 20 minutes late for school. And I arrived like Sweaty Betty. An auspicious start I think you'll agree. I managed it today thankfully.

-fortunately the rest of the day went a lot better. I had my first classes and was pleased with how they went. The students are fairly well behaved. I didn't start into any actual work for fear that they might actually catch on to the fact I have no real clue what I'm doing. Don't think I can avoid work today though.

-I really need my own apartment. It is driving me mad not being able to unpack or feel settled. If you are the praying kind, do.

Praise the Lord

You cannot wipe the smile from my face right now, because (cue hallejuah music) MY CASE ARRIVED!!

So coming soon, photos of the place now I have my memory card adaptors and sticks, messages received and sent because I have my charger, and best of all an attempt at straight hair!

I feel very far away

I don't really have time for much on here today, it's all a bit crazy still.

- one of my bags still hasn't made it. This is making it difficult. My phone charger is in there, lots of my teacher clothes and shoes and mostly importantly my hair straightners (see below).
- it's bloody roasting here. They claim it to be 'winter'. Ha! It's all I can do to get to air conditioning when I have to go outside, but like in Korea it's the humidity that kills and it makes my hair like Monica's when she went to Barbados. I need my straightners.
- the above makes me feel homesick. I hate feeling homesick.
- my timetable is fairly good and I know I have my classroom keys and a computer, hence the blog.

Let us finish with the prayer of case tracing and returning to Tina. Otherwise known as Qantas pull the bloody finger out and get my case plea, or at least flipping well answer the phone!

Oh and wish me good luck as I try to navigate myself home all by myself.

102 days is all I got

Bags are packed. I'm off on another adventure.

Oh crap. What was I thinking?!