Melbourne Part 2

Ok, so walking to Federation Square from Kt. Kilda sounds like a good idea.

It's 3.5 miles one way. I walked over 7 miles a day. No wonder my feets have blisters.

Oh well, got to see everything I wanted to while I was here. Wish I had more time to spend in the various different places, but alas, I must travel on.

I'm heading to Cairns in the morning. Should be good fun.

Rock on my loves~

Olivia

Melbourne

This is what I have done thus far in Melbourne:

I took a shower, cracked open my jar of peanut butter, and tried to sleep.

Got up in the morning, got dressed, walked from St. Kilda to Melbourne. Takes about an hour.

Found the 5oth anniversary of Barbie, was kind of disappointed, bought a bag.

Found the Art Gallery, It had a Dali Exhibit. Went to that and was very happy. Walked the rest of the gallery, and found a Henry Moore sculpture and almost cried.

Walked home, finding a 7-11. Got a Slurpee and donut for a total of $4. A $3 Slurpee never tasted so good.

Going to the museum tomorrow to find the Ned Kelly exhibit.

Rock on my loves~

Olivia

Packing

I have never liked packing to go home. This time is the hardest, mostly because it's going on home before I am. I'll be following it shortly so no worries on that one.

I miss everyone heaps and I can't wait to drive.

I get all sorts of antsy at times, mostly because I can't go and take care if it myself. I hate being dependent on others even though I know that Mary-Pat and Ted really don't mind.

Although today I said windscreen. Not windshield.... The transition has begun.

Not only that, I actually was cold today at school. For the first time. Not cold enough to put on the winter jacket, but chilled. The wind blew just right.

So my dears, I'll be off sooner then I think. See you all then.

Rock on my loves~
Olivia

Journey

So I'll be heading on with my travels Thursday, the 25. Which is also my mom's birthday.

I'll be going to Melbourne until the 29, then Cairns until July 3, then Brisbane until July 7, then Sydney until July 11, then New Zealand until July 23. Then home.

I'm currently avoiding packing my suitcase to send to my parents.

Gifts and what not are inside. I'm going to lock it and not send the key home so my parents have to wait until I come home to open it. :)

I'll be home sooner then later my loves.

Rock on
Olivia

Lax blogging...

I haven't been blogging much, I've really been two busy for that, or tired. My yr 8's are getting better every day. A lot of them have talent, they just need to harness it and work with it. I've created a landscape project for them and it's been going well, except that they wont finish it while I'm still here.

My yr 10's are getting better. I've been working on a new project with them and the first day didn't go as well as the second day, which was today. I think that by the end that they will be just about right, but again, I will be leaving by that time.

My yr 11's and 12's are fantastic and they are very cooperative. I can actually give them a suggestion to make something better, and most of the time they try it.

I am actually teaching. I feel like a teacher, not some "Prac" teacher that's just hanging around. I know exactly what I'm doing and how to do it. I guess this is how you are supposed to feel when you only have 3.5 weeks left to teach!

I'm doing well other wise, But I'm ready to come home. Although when I come home, I want to try to go to the U.P. It's calling me home more then anything else. I miss the smell of the air, the beautiful drives, and the freezing waters of Lake Superior. :)

I know that I will hate leaving, but the going home will be even better.

I feel like I'm at home here, even though I could never live here. They don't have Halloween like we do.

The moral of today is.....

Ok, so never go to another country with Travelers Checks. NEVER. Let me explain why.

So our adventure, (Brian, Rob, and I), started off well. Then it started raining, then it got harder, and harder, and the wind picked up. So we were drenched. This all happened on the way to the bank so that Brian could cash his checks.

While Rob and I waited outside for him, an Aussie Cowboy came up. He stopped, looked at us, then goes, "You two dating?" Rob, being a decent person, replied "Yeah". Basically, saving me from being accosted. So then the conversation went south quick. He talked about us being in a relationship and called Rob some names, that aren't considered insults down here.

The best part of this story, Cowboy Peg-leg, (Yes he told us is name) asked Rob if he loved me. Rob just replied "Yes". Cowboy Peg-leg, said, "No you don't you looked away! You're not getting any tonight!"

The rest of what he said is not acceptable to write. I'll fill anyone in on this later.

So we walk back to the train station, get rained on some more. Get on the train to Perth.

Hung out in Perth, realized this pub that people were going to be at was no where near where we were and gave up, got back on the train, then had to get off two stops before ours, get on a bus, missed our stop, get to a different one, then the rain starts again, and we get back to my place, dry off, get pizza, and then go to bed.

So children, never get Travelers Checks. They might make your life more interesting, but not easier.

Also, We saw Tim, my host "brother", at the train station, I told him to stop following me. This was his reply:

"Olivia! Get out of my country!" Sweet kid.

Rock on~

Olivia

Photo Problem

Ok, so all the people trying to see my photo's here's my photobucket account.

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f268/oliviaiscreepy/Australia/

I made this a long time ago, so, yeah. I'm creepy.

Hope this makes everyone happy!

Olivia

I's a teacher Lady!

So today I felt amazing. I got to school, started looking at the year 12 students work. The grading system is strange, but very easy to understand. I'm stealing it for my own class. Next, I have come to realize the the Education System in America is more flawed then I thought.

I can only speak for the Art Department when I say this, but the student work is sent off to a council of art teachers to review their portfolios and their final pieces. THAT IS JUST NOT DONE IN AMERICA!!!!

They have a curriculum council that reviews everything, and I assume that Australia has other tests and things for the other subject areas that are also reviewed by the curriculum council. But OH MY GOSH! That makes art so much more important to those students then what we do in the classrooms of America.

And Lizzie told me that they only have $6,000 (4,524 American) Between two classrooms. Um Cindy, my American host teacher, only was given $200 and had to get grants to support the rest.

I have to say Australia has something on the American education system.

But besides what I learned today, I have been teaching the year 8's full on and will soon be presenting the year 10's with their next project.

I also have been taking over classes when Lizzi is out of the room. She has relief teachers come in, but I'm the one working with the students.

So today the year 11's kept interrupting me and giving me crap. I let them have it.

My last hour of the day is Photography, which I'm basically just there to be an extra pair of hands when the students need help. Today I was grading presentations that the year 12's did and staying down in the art room.

It is a year 11 class, and they were telling Lizzi how I yelled at them for doing what they did. Lizzi came downstairs and told me that I had put the fear of God into them, and did a good job for it.

:) You can only imagine my excitement when I heard this. I have always been a good teacher, and it's because I don't take crap from anyone. And I follow through on all my threats.

Muahhaa.

Rock on my loves~

Olivia

Rottnest Island

For the sake of not writing down every gritty detail, I'll just give the low down.

One, Rottnest is beautiful. Only buses and relief vehicles are allowed on the island. Not as strict as Mackinac but pretty close. The sands were softer then anything I've ever put my feet on, the sunrises and sunsets are GORGEOUS.

I could have stayed there forever.

I also would like to fill people in on my school some more. My year 11's are going to have a rude awakening starting today. Lizzie is out sick and I am the teacher today, even though there is a sub. I only have two classes and I'm ready to handle this!

The only issue that I'm having is when I get observed this time, Will they be working in the classroom or will they be out and about? I'm following what Lizzie has, and it looks like they will be doing some crayon rubbings. The only thing I need to do is get a lesson Plan written for my coordinator.

Oh well, I'll just do my best. That's all I can do isn't it?

I'm behaving myself and having a lovely time.

Miss you all,

Olivia

Sad Face.

I had a really good day at school, The students are normal High Schoolers, the like to "wag" or skip school just as much as the rest of the world.

I know that I'm going to half to crack the whip with some of them my year 11 students mostly.

One of my year 8 students, poor thing "power chucked" right at the end of class, as usual. Thank God, we didn't have a class right after. So I went and hid in the back room writing and reading my school materials.

I only have two classes on Monday, and the rest I will be just kind of working. Tomorrow I'll try to take some pictures of the school. Very different then at home.

But what really makes me sad is the fact that I have to wait HOURS to tell anyone else other then Mary Pat, Ted, and Tim. Today is the only real day that I've had time to think about the people I left behind, I can call my parents any time really and talk to them, but it's just not the same as is was before.

I almost want to call Xie and see what's up back home.

Heart bubbles~

Olivia

And so....

Ok, so I start teaching in the morning and I'm very excited about it. School starts around 9:00 am, so I have to be there at 8:20. OMG. I had to be at Mt. Pleasant High at 7:00 am! What a nice break!

Mary Pat is going to take me the first day, just so I'm on time and I get there ok. After that I'll be walking, Unless it's raining. Things are going really well and on my facebook and myspace are my pics. I might be able to link them up to this.

PICS: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=35889776&albumId=3505433

I've been keeping a journal and writing it all down so that when I have time I will fill in the empty spots on my blog.

Things are great here, I can't wait for the busy weekend ahead!

Heart bubbles~

Olivia

Guildford

Camping was AMAZING. I never thought I would actually enjoy it. My pictures really say it all.

I got to my host family today. The woman that I am staying with is orginonally from Texas. Now mix that with a slight Aussie accent and there ya go. She is very friendly and took me to lunch, where I learned how freely wine flows around here. :) She gave me access to the wine cellar and the beer fridge. :) Oh happy day.

The room I'm in is adorable and I love it. I'd tell you more but I need to get settled in and then we are going about the town to see whats here.

I'll give you all my address on the facebook group if you want to send me a letter or postcard.

I will be staying right across the street from where I will be teaching.

Heart Bubbles~

Olivia

First day

So I arrived alright. Everything made it.

So I get to LA and they are all mean to me and stuff, and then I get on the DOUBLE DECKER PLANE (I totally got pics!!) and then got treated like I was sitting in American First Class. I got both a full chicken dinner, a snack bag, and breakfast.

Plus in flight movies and such. Yeah I hit the head phones and passed out til dinner. Awesome plane ride, a few bumps but not many.

I enjoyed my little plane ride, then got my bags, went through customs, then got on my domestic flight to Alice Springs. I am not traveling with anyone at the moment but it's OK. People don't bother me to much. (Just don't walk into town with 16 pounds of electronics on your back)

The only issue I had today was getting a phone card. It's Sunday here. Which means I needed to walk to an ATM, not really an issue not a long walk. Got some cash. Then I had to walk to the other end of town and get the phone card because everything else was closed.

Not a fun day for me because it made me wait almost 3 hours to call my folks to let them know I was OK.

Then I found the Internet cards, they sell those at my Hostel. Which is something to be desired. I only paid like $20.

But tomorrow I set out on my adventure to the Outback to see Ayers Rock. Yay!

Wishing you all were here,

Olivia

Air Portage

So. Never travel to a foreign country without know for sure the weight restrictions. Apparently, a single person can only bring so many KILOS. If you don't know that, well, you do now.

My efforts to keep all my clothes on my person at all times, didn't work out so well.

Both bags were over the weight limit, which means I had to check one.

I chose the one that held my laptop, cameras, and other personal items to get me through to at least Brisbane.

But I am pretty sure I'm getting on a double-decker plane, so that's cool. :)

Keep you all posted.

Heart Bubbles ( I miss you all already)

Olivia

Blogger

Hey everyone,

This will be my blog while I'm down under. I'll update it as much as possible. I may or may not have access to Internet a lot. So I'm going to try for a once a week thing.

Heart bubbles,
Olivia