A whole new game

First of all I would jut like to say how excited I am to have two weeks off for my term/Easter break. I am travelling starting Monday, so I hope to update you with some of my adventures. It feels like I have been teaching here for a lot longer than two weeks and so the break is a welcomed one, and a good time to get away.

Rewinding back a few days I just wanted to share with you one of my favorite things I have done so far. Both of my cooperating teachers are fairly young still, and have kids who are elementary- high school aged. They play on a touch footbal rec league on Monday nights and needed another girl to play so they asked me if I would like to. SWEET! I would love to! I have learned to ask this question though..." Now when you say touch football, what does that mean in Australia?" Most people probably assumed I was talking about two-hand touch American style football (American style football also known as gridiron). No no, touch football, or footy, is a whole new game. I gave him a blank stare when Graeme started explaining it, so he said we would get the 7th graders to play it at recess. My first exposure to the game was a recess version (with way too many players, and iffy rules) played by the year 7 boys the afternoon before our game. That evening I was tossed a jersey, met the team, and then thrown on the field.

I have not felt that lost on an athletic field in a long time. I had no idea what was going on. A few of the rules were explained to me, but I barely caught mot of them. I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off the whole first half! There are no forward passes, you have six poessions to try and score, it is constantly moving, and the ref is constantly talking to you. (which incidentally led me to stop right before I scored because I thought something had been called on me, but lets not talk about that). Second half went a little bit better. I started to figure out the tactics of the game a bit more and see some holes on the field. It was great fun. I do not remember the last time I had to completely learn a new game like that; if anything it is usually just modifications of games that I already know. The good news for me is that I still have a few more Mondays to figure the game out:) I cannot wait to play again after break.

Here is the link for the Autralian Touch Football Official site if anyone is interested. Be prepared to play when I get home.  http://www.austouch.com.au/

Until next time...Hope all is well stateside.