So I am guessing that when the average person thinks of Australia and all of the animals they may encounter and could possibly have troubles with, the list may consist of kangaroos, crocodiles, or one of the many deadly spiders and snakes. Me? Nope. In my experience so far I have found a different animal to be a little bit of a thorn in my side.
The Lorikeet.
The temperature outisde is such that we keep the windows open all of the time, which is awesome don't get me wrong, but at about 5a.m.every morning there is a gang (yes a gang, blood brothers til the end) that hangs out diretly outside of my window. Now imagine the most annoying pet bird you have ever heard and multiply that by about 30. Yup. Good morning world. The Lorikeet is a Beautiful bird, google a picture of it, yet we are going to have a showdown soon. That is because they are not just my broken alarm clock in the morning, but there is another gang that hangs out in a couple of trees on our street. The route of my morning run takes me right past these trees just before I reach home. They caught me off gaurd the first couple of days, but I know their tricks now. They are (miraculously) silent as I approach and then as soon as I hit the first tree the whole gang explodes into the shrillest screech and they take flight. Not just anywhere, oh no, some go up some fly at about my level and then some in front and some in back. I am convinced they are trying to drop bombs; every day there has been a near miss of bird poop in front and to the side of me. So help me the day that one hits my head. It is going down, not quite sure what I will do but it won't be nice. We will see who wins this war before I leave.....it has only begun!
On a school note, things are going very very well. I taught a couple of the PE lessons this week and they went great. I taught them a new game and I am pretty sure they are hooked. I learned it from St. John Seward and it is called Shark Island. Just ask and I will explain it to you if you would like. Next week I will start picking up more of the main classes, but my heay load will not be until after term/Easter break which begins after next week. Like I said before it will be very interesting to see how teaching core lessons will go. I am teaching English, science, math, spelling, and Australian history. I am fairly excited though, it will keep me on my toes for sure. And do not tell anyone, but middle school is really growing on me; they are a fun age:).
Today I got to sit through some introduction presentations for a few other new staff members and me. We went over the handbook and some other safety regulations and things: enthralling day. Was not too bad to be inside though because it rained all day long. I have yet to see a full sunny day since I have been in Australia. All I keep hearing is how unusual this weather has been, prove it!
This Sunday I get to tag along to Brisbane for the dance competition that the students are entered in. I believe there is about 60-80 kids that participate from our school and it is a ballroom dancing competition. Every Friday at school they have what is called Dance Fever where professionally trained dancers come in and teach the students different types of dances. One of our teachers is professionally trained as well so she puts in a lot of time and helps the kids put together these routines. From what I have heard our school usually comes home with a few awards, so I am excited to see what the competition will be like. I have watched a couple of the practices already, and I am impressed with the students' skills. It is a really unique program to have at a school.
Tonight Sonya and I were invited to dinner by one of the families at her church, an American family that I met over the weekend. The father is a professor at the University of FL and they moved over here for a few months for his sabbatical. The mom was great, she made sure I had everything I needed and told me her parents were coming over in a few weeks if I were to need anything from the States. It is nice to just have that American connection as weird as that sounds, but it is a little comfort even from people you have never met. So I am excited to get to know them a little better.
Hope all is sunny and well Stateside!
Psalm 95:1-2 "Come let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving; and extol him with music and song"
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