The Mountains we Climb
Through all the years I've spent climbing mountains, I've learned one thing. Reaching a peak means you are halfway done. It doesn't mean that it is "all downhill from here," as that downhill trek can be some of the toughest parts of the hike. Your knees hurt. Your muscles are shaky. Sometimes you take a step, and find that it is unstable and fall. That doesn't happen as much on the way up. On the way up you sweat. You push. It is hot - no matter what the temperature is outside. They are totally different experiences - going up... and going down. I'm at the part of the trail where I can see the peak. I know I'm almost there, and that all I have to do is keep pushing. My mountain climbing friends, do you know that point? That point where your last reserve of adrenaline kicks in and doesn't make you go faster, just keeps you taking the next step? Where your legs feel like they're a bit disconnected from the rest of your body, yet the burn is all too real? Where you stop talking to your hiking partner, because... you.... just... need... to... get.... to... the... top. I'm there. I can see the peak. I'm going to make it. Hell. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get there. Probably sit down and find my water bottle (or glass of wine). Take a drink, and look around, admire the view, and reflect on what an absolutely awesome hike it was to get there. Really, that's the way you feel when you are hiking in the mountains. Something about the challenge and the burn is.....good. You ask for it when you lace up your shoes and drive to a trail head. You are looking for a challenge. Tough love Tonight at dinner Olin let us know that his low point for the day was when his teacher singled him out in front of the entire bus line for something he did in class, and let everyone know that his class wouldn't be getting a certain privilege because of it. (He was supposed to wait until he got home before he ate this chocolate treat that they made in class. Olin saw another boy eat his, so Olin ate his.... and got caught.) Since the first day at school I've noticed that Aussies have a "tough love" approach to discipline. If a student is talking during morning assembly, the teacher with the microphone makes the student stand up and stay standing in front of all 1000 kids for the remainder of the assembly. When leaders were chosen for each grade level's house (Harry Potter stuff her folks) each student that wanted to be a leader got up in front of their whole grade and gave an impromptu speech. Then all the students that wanted to be leader stood on stage with their backs to the audience. The Lead Teacher put their hand over each student's head while the students in the audience raised their hands to vote. The winner was then announced, while the loser candidates retreated to the audience. I've not ever seen anything like that at home. Americans are a bit different. We often have the whole "everyone gets a trophy" approach to competition. It hurts me sometimes to watch the kids in such a vulnerable position. The empathy in me kicks in, and I forget that they either chose to make themselves vulnerable or were being naughty and probably deserved it. At the same time, though... I've tried the "stand up" approach in class, and it works pretty well on those kids that just won't shut up! Passion Fruit and other treats of life Have I mentioned how much I like the celery here? Man, it just keeps getting better. I ate a whole 3 stalks of it during morning recess today while on duty supervising the basketball court. Celery must be at its peak in June in the Southern Hemisphere. It is full of moisture, super crunchy, and the little stringy parts in it are really easy to bite through. I never ate celery in Alaska. Well, maybe like twice in 12 years. Passion fruit is another treat that we have come to love while living in Australia. Might I even say we are getting to be passion fruit snobs? We now know that the wrinkled ones are older (and it doesn't take too long for them to start getting wrinkled) and are good, but just not quite as juicy. We've decided that since we are only here for 6 more month that we have got to start eating passion fruit every day, because we can't get it back in AK! Sound bites 1. I offered advice on teaching at Narara to a 'practical teacher' (student teacher) here. She was so nervous and overwhelmed with the environment and expectations, so I gave her a few tips. It felt really strange to listen to myself. All the advice that has been passed on to me by all the wonderful teachers here (thank you!) was to coming out of my own mouth. And it all made perfect sense, despite how hard I know it is to do it. 2. Alta and Olin played FANTASTIC soccer games on Saturday. They are really starting to understand their positions. (Olin is right mid, and Alta is center defense.) 3. Tom spent the day making three different batches of sour kraut. Woop Woop! Now, if we could only get the kids to like sour kraut as much as they like passion fruit. 4. I just found out my 96 year old grandma is moving into assisted living. Man, I hope I can live an independent life like that until I'm 96. She's a total bad ass! 5. Last Friday I spent a fabulous evening hanging out with co-workers having drinks at a glorious restaurant on Brisbane Waters. Great folks and great conversation. It was the perfect way to end a fortnight. 6. I did not run the half marathon. I REALLY wanted to. Everyone in our house (except Alta so far) has been experiencing yucky sicky symptoms that are basically just massive low energy. I spent ALL of Saturday AND Sunday on the couch grading Year 10 assessment (50 down, 50 more to go!) Running 13 miles just didn't seem possible when I didn't even want to get up to go to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. 7. Yesterday I walked across the campus green to the parking lot where Tom picks me up. I felt like I was in a mini-Jurassic Park savannah scene. You know, where all the different herbivore dinosaurs are all grazing in the field in herds of their own species? The only difference was that it was instead of dinosaurs, it was flocks of ibis, corella, sulphur crested cockatoo, and some strange kind of duck all grazing on grass in flocks on the green. I just walked right through the middle. Because I could. 8. Thank you Ola for the new shirt! My wardrobe selection is so small. Vielen Dank!
7 Comments
Cindy Riddle (Blachly)
6/20/2017 07:34:48
Thank you for writing about your adventures, Myla! It is the high point of my day when I get a story from you! What a grand time you are having! You always give me something to ponder. Tough love or Everyone gets a Trophy - I am thinking that Everyone gets a Trophy isn't realistic - not everyone gets a trophy in real life (but I love everyone to get a trophy!) Tough love? I have to think more about that. It may speak more to how it will really be out there. Making decisions, and living with consequences and then making better (or worse) decisions next time. I would like to think there is a more satisfactory middle ground, but I have to ponder that more. I do know with the support Alta and Olin get from you and Tom helps bring everything back to where it makes things make sense in their lives. They are thriving and becoming independent and having a blast! Good on you and Tom! Love and hugs to all!
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Myla Liljemark
6/21/2017 23:55:35
:) I love that you are enjoying all these experiences Cindy!! I know, the tough love and everyone gets a trophy thing is hard. I think fall somewhere in the middle. I have learned a lot about the value of tough love while being here though and think in the end it is probably more helpful. Olin has recovered and will have a story to tell. I also think he will probably be a little more keen to follow instructions next time around!
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Naomi
6/21/2017 07:47:14
I love that I can now perfectly see you walking across the field and know what those birds look like--I miss them (and you)!
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Myla Liljemark
6/21/2017 23:57:01
Passion fruit in Ohio! Sweet!
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Karen
6/21/2017 08:47:57
You do write well. Since I am also a hiker, I appreciated your take on hiking. So true! Well said.
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Myla Liljemark
6/21/2017 23:57:58
Thanks Karen! With all those super tall mountains in Colorado, I know you understand the metaphor perfectly! Glad you are enjoying the stories!
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AuthorThe Liljemark's enjoy exploring the world. This blog chronicles our adventures. Archives
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