I'm standing in the center of C Block, right next to the tree that blooms white in the spring and surrounded by the many classrooms that I have taught over the year. It's hot out, as December usually is in Australia. As I stand there I suddenly hear that Bron, the teacher I exchanged with, is over by the canteen and is heading my way. Within seconds she rounds the corner wearing the same Christmas sweater she was wearing at the 'goodbye' assembly she received at Seward Middle School. How wonderful it was for the staff and students to do that - send her off with a grand party to celebrate their year with her. Bron and I see each other, smile, and give each other a big hug. "Thank you, Bron," I say. "Thank you so much. This has been amazing." And then... we let go...and walk away. Suddenly I'm gripped with a thought, "I didn't get a picture of us together! But it is over." And then... I wake up.
A small part of me is laughing right now because whenever my dear friends the Literacy Ladies would come to my Year 7 and 8 classes to teach creative writing, they would always remind the kids that simply having someone "wake up from a dream" or "just die" didn't make for a very strong resolution to the story. Yet, here I am recounting my short little story and concluding that it was a dream. It was the dream I had last night. It is a dream that I've been waiting to have, or a moment anyway that tells me I have moved past the shock of being back in the States and on towards processing the experiences we've had in Australia. For those of you that don't already know, I have never met my exchange teacher face to face. We missed each other by two hours at the Anchorage airport last December. We flew out at 7:00pm, she flew in at 9:00pm. Despite that, we have gotten to know each other both through email and Skype, but more importantly through getting to know the people who have made up each other's lives. I know Bron because I work with her co-workers and live in her neighborhood. My children go to her children's school. We shop at the same stores and drive through the same roundabouts. We and our families have both been through an amazing experience - we went on exchange. Though we no longer live in Australia, the exchange experience isn't quite over - nor did I ever think for a moment that reentering our old lives would be effortless. We are currently spending a 10 day lay-over on the Big Island of Hawaii, and it is here that I'm starting to notice things. Almost immediately I realized that I sound like everyone else. No more beautiful Australian accent lilting around me. No more Aussie slang words that I had to ask the definitions of. It didn't take long to notice that I once again had to learn to walk on the other side of the sidewalk... the right side, rather than the left. I've also had a couple of mild jolts when the driver of the vehicles I've been riding in pulls onto a road with on coming traffic. My brain does this sudden adrenaline panic alert that we are in the wrong lane, only to realize that... no we aren't. We aren't in Australia anymore. Our final weeks in Australia were filled. Olin turned 10 years old just before we left so he brought suckers to his class and handed out American quarters to each of his classmates. We goofed on the suckers as Aussies don't call them that and we thought "lollies" (which they are allowed to bring) are the same as suckers - but they aren't. I can't remember what they call suckers, but apparently they aren't allowed in school because they are a choking hazard. Olin's teacher let the kids eat them anyway though. My experiences during the last couple weeks at school were so full and memorable. I gave a 45 minute presentation to the staff about Alaska and teaching in the Alaskan school system. I was nervous going into it, as I had never done anything like that before, but really started enjoying myself once I got started. I had many teachers let me know that they got so much out of it, which is great feedback. (Thank you!) I also organized three Skype sessions between my Aussie students and the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Seward Middle. My Aussie Year 8s Skyped with Bron's Seward 8th graders about colonisation of Australia and N. America and its impact on indigenous people. The Skype session followed a pen pal activity we had done on the same topic. My Aussie Year 7s Skyped with Bron's Seward 7th graders about livability of Australia and Alaska which is part of the Year 7 curriculum. Mrs. Scrivo's 6th graders Skyped with two of my Aussie Year 8 students in an interview style conversation. Mrs. Scrivo's students asked such good questions. I was really impressed with their preparation for the Skype session. They were all really rewarding experiences and I'm super happy we were able to make it all happen. I have so much to write in this last blog post, but as I continue, I start to feel all twisted up... not sure where to continue and how much to say - afraid that I'll forget to mention someone or something. Throughout this entire year I've relied on soundbites to get me through these 'clogs' I feel sometimes when I write. So here are some soundbites. 1. I've stopped counting how many miles/kilometers I've walked to and from work. It stopped mattering. Walking to work became more of a ritual than a feat. I would say that I've probably clocked about 1000 miles over the course of the year (and through the soles of two pairs of shoes), but it wasn't the number that was important. What was important were the birds I saw, the people I met, the friends and family I walked with, and the offers of rides I received. What was important was the quiet time I had where I was left alone with my thoughts, or the deafening drone of the cicadas which reminded me of where I was. I've always loved to hike and walk, but in Australia it became an important part of who I am. 2. The Aussies we met here have an ease and casualness unlike anywhere I've ever been. The staff at Narara were supportive, caring, and understanding. Thank you for your hugs. Thank you for your encouragement. Traci, Annie, Luke, Pam, and Rhonda - thank you for your sincere friendship. TAL Staff, you taught me so incredibly much. Thank you for being there to help me process. Di and the HSIE staff - you introduced me to so many different ways of connecting with these kids. Thank you. Karen, you offered a type of support that helped me to laugh and relax. Leslie, your honesty and belief in me was there from the beginning. Thank you. 3. To my students - especially 8 Heal and 10 Mindil - You have taught me more about Australia and myself than anyone during this entire year. I've already told you individually how much I appreciate you, so I won't go into it here. Just know you are special. Thank you for letting me be your teacher. 4. Ola and Luke. You brought Europe (our home in a different chapter of our lives) to Australia for us. Vielen Dank fur alles, unsere schoenes Freunden. Ich werde immer unsere Tagen auf dem Strand nicht vergessen. Auch, unsere camping reise, wandern durch die Australian Bush, and unsere Konversation mit Wein in der Abends. Danke fur alles. Bis Naechste mal! 5. What I will miss:
6. What I won't miss:
7. And to all of those of you who followed along on my blog, supporting me in my writing and my reflection of our experiences in Australia, thank you. Sometimes it was just knowing that people were reading and enjoying my posts that spurred me on to continue writing through the year. Thank you for all your support. 8. And thank you CITEL (Colorado International Teachers Exchange League) for this amazing experience. It has changed our lives in so many ways. Two days ago, in Hawaii, Olin was having a sad moment and said "I just want to go home." I replied, "Which home Olin - Australia or Alaska?" He didn't have an answer - and that's OK. That's how deeply this experience affected not only him, but us all. Our exchange is nearly over. The dream I had last night just might have brought it all together in a way more clear than words could have done. Just as I wished I'd gotten a picture in my dream of Bron and me together, there are still things I wish I could stay and do in Australia. But, when the time came, and the hug was over we had to thank Australia and the people there for all they offered us and taught us, and we had to leave. The sun sets on one chapter of our life's adventure and rises on another. I look north to Alaska. 'The mountains are calling.... and I must go.'
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AuthorThe Liljemark's enjoy exploring the world. This blog chronicles our adventures. Archives
December 2017
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