I'm not sure if that's actually how hot is was today, but that's the high according to an app on Tom's phone. So far we've found that it is pretty accurate.
This was my first day of teaching 5 classes. The morning was beautiful. No cobwebs across the path through the woods on the way to school, dew on the grass, chirping birds... it was perfect. The morning classes started off great. I had my Year 8s twice and then my Year 7s once all before lunch. It is such a pleasure teaching them. I'm supposed to be starting the creation of the universe/world with my 7s and decided to begin with a look at non-traditional creation stories. I used the Maori and Lakota creation stories and the kids seemed to enjoy them. My 8s have been studying prejudice and so just finished a movie (Remember the Titans) and will be doing all kinds of analysis now that it is over. Right before lunch I also had my Year 10s. This is when things started getting tough... and hot. Their class is right around noon which means that the temp is just starting to get rolling. We had class in a room I hadn't been in before and it didn't take long to learn that the projector projected weakly and with a yellow tinge. Imagine 106°F (ish) weather (it just kept getting hotter as the day went on), two ceiling fans, no breeze, about 16 fifteen-sixteen year old boys and 10 fifteen-sixteen year old girls in a classroom learning about.... drum roll.... waste management and sewage treatment from a projector screen you could barely see. I don't think I've ever tried anything more ridiculous. They definitely did not want to be there (one kid told me that "this class is waste management"), and to be honest, I didn't really either. It was so damn hot. After lunch we were supposed to have a whole-school assembly to talk about House competitions (yes, just like in Harry Potter), but it was cancelled at the last minute because of the heat. Which means.... That I had another class that I had to teach, and it had only gotten hotter. Luckily it was my Year 8s again. I have them three times on the second Friday of my fortnight schedule. They showed up, and knew that the next thing we were going to be working on was writing. They just looked at me in agony and said "Please miss. Can we just sit here. We can't write anything. Our skin is sticking to our paper and desks. We just can't do it." And neither could I. So while they were reading (first 10 minutes of class is silent reading because it is a Humanities class and has an English component to it) I listened to the class next door to see what they were doing. What do teachers do when it is this hot? I wasn't about to make the same mistake that I had with my Year 10 and actually try to teach a lesson. Soon the whole class was listening to the class next door and we all realized together that they were playing a game. "Miss, can we play a game too?" And so we did. They taught me how to play silent ball... which wasn't very silent as everyone was a bit crazy with the heat. With about 20 minutes left until the end of class I told them it was my turn to teach them some games. So in scorching heat and all of us dripping with sweat, I told them about Native Youth Olympics and taught them how to do the kneel jump, scissor broad jump, and seal hop. It was great watching year 8 boys seal hop across the classroom floor and to watch whole lines of girls and boys doing the scissor broad jump in the hallway outside our class. Other students came to watch and my students seemed to have a blast telling them about it and trying to see who could jump further. It is something that I don't think I will forget. Just after I left the school for the evening Tom called and asked if I wanted him to pick me up. There was no question in my mind. I needed a ride. It was way too hot to walk home. So he and the kids picked me up, we went home for some popsicles (which I've been told are called 'ice blocks') and then packed up dinner and swimming stuff to head to the beach. We spent about 3 hours grilling, sitting, swimming, catching crabs, and reflecting. What I've observed or learned 1. In Alaska you start the car and warm it up before you get in. Here, I saw someone start their car and wait outside so that the AC would cool it down before they got in it. 2. One tip people had to cool off was to put a dry towel in the freezer. When you get hot, just pull it out and drape it over you. 3. In Alaska we go outside as a treat when you are taking a break from instruction (like we did today during 5th period). Here that would have been absolute torture. 4. Even the toothpaste was hot when I brushed my teeth this evening. 5. After Tom picked me up on my way home from school I leaned my arm against the closed window of the car (from the inside) and the heat from the outside of the car on the window nearly burned my arm. I had to jerk my arm away quickly. 6. Something I noticed when I first came to Australia was many people here wear scents (perfume, cologne, etc.) especially compared to Alaska. I couldn't figure out why but now I have an idea. We sweat all the time and that probably leads to concerns about body odor. Not sure on this one... I'm still observing. 7. That when it gets super hot like this Sydney can get electrical black-outs because everyone is running their AC Today I'm thankful for: 1. Tracy. My co-worker and new friend is lending me her guitar for the year. Her son has also said that my kids can borrow his mini soccer goals to set up in the backyard. Thank you Tracy! 2. Moon-shine from a full moon on the ocean. 3. That my kids like to play together. Watching them play at the beach was calming. 4. I finished my first fortnight! I have four more fortnights to go until the end of Term 1 and then we get a two week break. 5. That Tom planted a garden. Gardening is his happy time. 6. That my parents are in Australia, and will be at the Gosford station in about an hour. Walk to Work Tally: 67 miles
3 Comments
Sam Wardell
2/10/2017 18:16:06
I can't believe you don't have AC in your classroom. It is mandatory here in North Queensland. I have been reading your blog and enjoy your stories. I am not sure if you seen mine, but it is lovely here as well. Lots of rainforest and wildlife. Can't swim on the beaches because of crocs and poison jellyfish. Exciting though. We just saw our first platypus in the Atherton Tablelands. Great place in North Queensland. Have fun.
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Myla Liljemark
2/17/2017 14:03:02
Hi Sam! Yes, it is definitely a challenge to teach when it is that hot. I've been hopping into your blog when a have some down time. It looks like you are having a great experience. What a bummer that you can't swim in the ocean. That is our lifeline when it is so hot. We don't have AC at home either so swimming at the beach is such a relief from the heat.
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Tracey Byrne
2/23/2017 03:40:39
You are more than welcome ☺
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AuthorThe Liljemark's enjoy exploring the world. This blog chronicles our adventures. Archives
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