As we move into our 4th week of school I'm discovering that it is more and more difficult to find time to write in my blog. It has been about a week since I wrote last, and so much has happened. I'll do my best to include as much as possible here.
My last post was on Friday of last week. I was scorching hot and I later discovered that it was indeed 46C (114F) and some people said that it even got as high as 47 (117F) towards the end of the school day. Australians themselves are talking about how hot this summer and that it is really abnormal to be getting so many high temperature days like this. This week it got to 41C (105F). It is so hard to teach when it is this hot. The kids just really don't care about anything we are learning and I feel like I have to work extra hard to try to entertain them. People have said that February is often the hottest month here, so hopefully things will start to cool down soon. Mom and Dad arrived safely late Friday night and we have been enjoying them completely. Dad bought the kids a soccer ball and kicked it around with them in the backyard. Mom and Tom have joined forces and are making the most spectacular meals. We went to the local farmers market on Sunday and bought fresh bread, freshly made noodles from a handsome Italian man, beautiful veggies, and Greek olives. Alta has been considering buying a sheep skin from a man selling skins at the market. She has been frugal with her money up until now, but really seemed to like the skin. Mom and Dad have been enjoying the animals here. We have a possum living behind our house that has gotten pretty brave. It walks around the yard while we are sitting on the back deck so they have been able to get a real good look at what Aussie possum look like They also are enjoying learning about the birds here. Tom made a bird feeder and mounted it to the deck so that we can feed the rainbow lorikeets and other birds that come to visit. They walked home from school with me one day and I showed them where all the different birds hang out on the walk - sulphur crested cockatoos, corella, galahs, and rainbow lorikeets. One evening we even saw a Tawny Frogmouth. My classes have been slowly getting more consistent and I'm feeling more confident. One of the problems that I think I've had is that I'm treating these students like I treat my Alaskan students. This week I've learned that even though they speak English and there are things about them that are similar, they are not American kids. I've found that the kids here do really well with structured note-taking (something I don't do a lot of in Alaska) and I have found that I have a lot more behavioral issues when I allow them to do paired or small group work (which is something I love to do.) My classes are running a bit more smoothly now that I have discovered that. I've also noticed that kids here respond really well to narrative teaching. As soon as I start telling them stories I know I've got them. Even the most challenging of kids are watching me with that little-kid-at-story-time look on their faces. Then I'll ask them questions and those that are usually too cool to answer, pipe right up. They are moments I cherish and they are also moments that I can't count on to last. The story has to end sometime and then they have to work. Another observation that I've made is that swearing is more accepted here. As long as kids are not directing their foul language at the teacher, it isn't bothered with. Another teacher explained to me that it is just a part of their normal way of speaking so unless it is directed disrespectfully towards adults or is really super bad, we just ignore it. Olin and Alta seem to be totally settled in. Olin has another friend that he just discovered lives in our neighborhood so they were out scootering in through the post-thunderstorm puddles on the street last night. Olin has also finally been accepted into the handball group and even got to the 'ace' position which is the highest position on the handball grid. Alta's teacher said she's a leader at her table at school and seems to be making friends too. She also just got her first pen pal letter from a friend in Seward. She felt so special opening it up and answering all her friend's questions on the question/answer paper he sent her. It's nice to have these connections with home. Yesterday I joined Tom when he went to pick up the kids from school. This was their last day being picked up because on Monday they will start riding the bus home. I want to mention the pick-up process because it is really different from the states. All kids are kept down in a courtyard by the building, and parents line up their cars in front of the school and down to the road to pick them up. As we made progress in the line and our car got closer to the school, Tom pulled out a rectangular piece of cardboard that had Olin and Alta's names on it and put it in the front windshield of the car. When we were the next car up, a woman (teacher) in a reflective vest spoke Olin and Alta's names into a microphone that broadcast to the students waiting in the courtyard. Our kiddos left the group, ran up the stairs and climbed into the car as the teacher read the names for the next car in line. The line was long. It took us about 15-20 minutes to get to the front of the line. Starting Monday the kids will ride the bus. It isn't a yellow school bus like ours at home. Kids here ride the city bus. Tonight Tom and I are going to get take-out Thai and go have an anniversary dinner at the Gosford waterfront. Fourteen years of adventures with that wonderful man. Walk-to-work Tally: 94 miles
4 Comments
Naomi
2/17/2017 15:20:35
I didn't know Tawny Frogmouths were birds! I thought they were a type of frogs :) It said in the event itinary for Quin's Zoo Keeper program there that she is going to get to feed the frogmouths.
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Myla Liljemark
2/17/2017 15:31:49
Super cool! Yep! They are birds!
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Candy Webber
2/17/2017 22:01:08
Those Tawney Frogmouths are really different looking. They are kind of neat in a way. Everyone looks like they are having a grand time. So glad your children have adapted so well. Say hello to everyone for me. Alta looks so cute with her glasses on. Olin is looking like a teenager all ready! So just blog when you have time no big deaL, as we all will enjoy it more! Love C
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Myla Liljemark
2/17/2017 22:43:56
Thanks Candy! I'm so glad that you are enjoying this. Things are so busy, but we really are having a blast.
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AuthorThe Liljemark's enjoy exploring the world. This blog chronicles our adventures. Archives
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