I'm going to post my musings written in Melbourne and Macedon here for you to peruse at your leisure.
Some of this is 'eek! I'm in Melbourne; how exciting' kind of stuff. Some of it is about education. It's all raw (in that I've only run an eye over it - no hard core editing. So apologies).
The week before I left my student teacher Anne had been playing with haikus with my Year 9 class. I was obviously affected by her fabulous teaching; I found myself writing haikus as the adventure progressed!
Australia day 1 - or, 13 Haikus
To my left is a bachelor party - they've hired out the whole house next
door! Just my luck. However, I must remember that although it's nearly
11 pm for my body, it's not even 9pm for the revellers next door.
Patience is a virtue and I AM staying in the most religious of places -
The Nunnery in Fitzroy (for what that's worth - I could be on Mars right
now and not know it: it's dark, warm and I have a bed (yay!)). I also
have ear plugs, so all should be well in Nunnery land.
The day of travel started (as always seems to be the case) with weather
drama. Hurricane winds hit Dunedin (150 kms per hour at the height on
the Peninsula) and flights were cancelled the night before (and the
first flight in the morning because of it). I was reminded of my trip
to Wellington in 2015, to the NZATE English Conference. It snowed in
Dunedin, enough to stop me driving. At 5 in the morning I trekked down
High Street to meet a shuttle (they weren't going up the hills) and
triumphantly arrived at the airport, to discover that the flight was
delayed indefinitely because of ice on the runway.
This time, power and water cuts meant the Dunedin airport toilets were
not flushing and, well, you can imagine. There were also a few grumpy
international travellers who had obviously been put up in hotels for the
night after cancelled flights. This meant we had a flash aircraft,
with movies, televisions and game selections. Sweet! I watched '45
Years', a film about a marriage of said length and the wife's discovery
of her husband's first love pre-her. So, no toilet, but excellent
celluloid.
Once in Auckland, things felt normal again (in the travel-zone normal
way, I mean). I had some sushi and a miso to calm body and nerves and
reflected on the rough haikus that were starting to emerge
subconsciously, thanks to Anne (my student teacher) taking a lesson on
them with my Year 9 class.
Haiku 1 (the unintentional)
Stern-jawed Germans and
Perky Koreans bumped from
Cancelled flights.
And from there, they just kept on coming. Thanks, Anne! I think I will theme this trip as such.
Haikus in airports #1
Hurricane winds blew
Power was out; trees were downed
Chaos! Cancelled flights!
Haikus in airports #2
You take my water
But do allow my salad.
Land of Sails: Dorkland.
And then my dad replied via social media:
Haiku from Mike
Why leave my home? I
Travel vicariously.
Tell me your stories.
Haikus on planes #1
Woman in seat by me
A seasoned pro with face cream
Applied with vigour.
Haiku in airports #3
Here, it's oven-hot
A flag flicks at the blue air
One star more than us.
Haikus in hostels #1
Small but adequate
Pleasing clean sheets: not so the
Bachelor party.
Haikus in hostels #2
Aussie-voiced girl bleats
Outside my door; she's twenty
Years younger than me.
Haikus in hostels #3
My room by the stairs
Means I don't have the street noise
Trams will not wake me.
Haikus in hostels #4
My room by the stairs
Means I have the footfall noise
Travellers might wake me.
Haikus in hostels #5
No mosquitos yet
I'm surprised! I thought in Oz
Everything eats you.
After some time hanging in the duty free/food/hustle bustle area of the
traveller zone (post-customs) I made my way to the gate. 40 minutes
early. It was great! Just me and the psychedelic carpet.
I was surprised at how quickly the flight to Australia passed. Films
helped again, and I indulged my cinematic proclivity with 'Me and Earl
and the Dying Girl', a Sundance winner from last year or a few years
back. Another good choice! Not much to report here, except the young
business woman from Melbourne ('well, from Sydney really - home is
always where your parents are, isn't it?') who fixed her makeup four
times during the flight and briefly read a book entitled 'Nice Girls
Don't Get the Corner Office: Common Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage
Their Careers'. She had a nice photo of her and a man on her phone
homescreen, though. I wonder if he knows Melbourne is not home for her?
I breezed through customs like it was a domestic flight; either I look
responsible and trustworthy or they were too damn tired to check
people's bags. No X-rays or anything on the checked in luggage, which
surprised me. And then out into the Australian air.
I felt like absorbing the public transport, so jumped on the airport
express bus into Melbourne instead of taking a shuttle straight to The
Nunnery (hostel). From the Southern Cross Station, all I had to do was
catch the number 96 tram to stop 13 on Nicholson St. What could go
wrong? It was still light and so was my optimism. However, once off the
bus, the tram stops were hard to figure out, and the payment system
even more confusing for a first-timer. Relying on the goodness of
humanity, I asked questions of the locals, except the first three sets
were all, weirdly, from Geelong. Apparently the population of Geelong
trains up to Melbourne on a Friday night and rides the trams.
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| Big buildings. |
So what with not feeling so successful at being able to tell a
Melbournite from a Geelongian, I honed in on a lost looking German girl
repeating the same exercise I had gone through minutes before with the
'Myki' machine at the closest Tram stop (no signs in the Southern Cross
Station - you would think, but no). 'Myki' is the card for the trams
(and the trains, too, I think - but that will need to be confirmed
tomorrow) - like the Go Card in Dunedin and the Oyster in London. 'Nice
German Girl' and I finally worked out how to do the tram thing (we
finally found an ACTUAL person from Melbourne to explain it to us) and
we parted ways, hopefully to successfully find our hostels in different
parts of the city.
By this point it was getting dark, and I'd been off the airport bus with
three bags, a jacket and boots in 27 degrees for nearly an hour trying
to figure that next stage out. The shuttle would definitely have been
easier, but probably not as adventurous. And I think I would have spoken
to fewer people - I really enjoyed those interactions I had.
The 96 tram pulled up, and on I struggled. Dark falls quickly! Now it
was really feeling like a Friday night in Melbourne. Trams are free in
the CBD (how choice!) so they're pretty packed, even when you move
outside of that zone.
I managed to get off at the right stop, but forgot to reswipe the Myki
card (I've been told it might not matter, so good), followed by walking
into the bachelor party next to the proper hostel bit ('Nah, it's next
door, love' - said in a brash Aussie male accent).
Haikus in the wrong accommodation (a stand-alone)
'You've got the wrong place,'
Said the groom's best man Nigel.
'That one's next door, love.'
And so I leave you, party sounds abating, skin a-cooling, bed
a-calling. Time to find the amenities in this olden day place of
worship. I hope the present-day residents are just as considerate as
the nuns of time passed and days gone by! It's pretty soothing thinking
about a worshipper living in this room.
Sleep haiku
I hope I don't wake too early
My body needs to rest now
Nighty night; sleep tight.
 |
| Airport flag. |
Australia day 2 - or, Best Day Ever
Haikus in Hostels #6
Nineteen Nepalese
They come from Sydney to play
National soccer game.
Haikus in Hostels #7
The girl looks Aussie
But when she opens her mouth:
'... from Te Aroha'.
Well, what a day. It started with chatty English lads talking at 5 in
the morning, but I didn't mind too much; that's 7am normal time. So I
didn't try too hard to get back to sleep. Plus, I was keen to start the
day.
Breakfast is free in this hostel, which is pretty amazing. It's top
quality breads they offer, too, and cornflakes and fruit. Yum. Over
breakfast I met the Sydney chapter of Australia's Nepalese community.
They are down here to play in a national Nepalese football tournament. I
learned they are the reigning champions, although I'm pretty sure the
chain smoking won't do much for their chances this year.
I left the hostel at about 9am and just started walking. I walked
through the exquisite park opposite the hostel and through to the
Museum. Preparations were under way for a fashion show finale for
Melbourne Fashion Week. This city is buzzing with events! From there I
accidentally found myself on Lygon St (Italian food! This was a
recommendation from a friend). I wandered, crossed the road and found a
neat Community centre with a library and Tibetan free trade coffee.
I'd like to state here for the record that all Melburnians have been
outstandingly polite. I'm quite amazed, actually. When I've asked for
help or for recommendations, Australians are more than happy to oblige.
After a coffee there, I walked west, continuing my free and random
explore. I found myself on the University of Melbourne campus, and
really enjoyed the Professor's Walk there. I think it rivals Otago
University as far as beautiful campuses go.
 |
| Cool plaques. And the pink skechers, later thrown out. |
I was spat out onto a main road and sort of headed south, wondering
where the Victoria Markets might be. I looked up. There they were.
And that's the kind of day it was: query, look up, discover.
The markets were unreal. I entered the food section, and was
overwhelmed by the smell of fish and noise. It was packed! Greeks,
Italians, Chinese ... GOODNESS ME I'd find it easy to live here. I felt
a pang of nostalgia listening to the Greek fishmonger selling his
wares, and that's indeed what they do. Nothing is passive; it's all
yelling and attention seeking.. I was spat out the other side and
wandered for a bit through the fruit and vegetable section. I made a
few choice sound recordings today, and here was one of them. I bought
three nectarines, three bananas, a potted of cherry tomatoes and a
massive red pepper. For $2.40. Oh my word, fruit and veges are cheap.
As are the awful other parts of the market, although I did buy a hat.
I figured I'd best get myself to the Arts' Centre as 'The Silent River'
was on at 1.30pm and it was already 12pm. This was the longest and most
confusing part of the day, as I had to walk quite a way and Maps didn't
take into consideration some impossibilities, like how the heck you get
to the other side of the Yarra THROUGH Flinders Station. I eventually
ditched the Maps app and figured out a longer way around, which led to
the discovery of the Southbank walk. Gosh, it reminded me of London's
Southbank!
It was another mission trying to find the main entrance to the Arts'
Centre, but I finally figured it out. As I headed for the doors the
building next door loomed large, too; the Andy Warhol/Ai Wei Wei
exhibition at the National Gallery of Melbourne! Perfect. That's where I
figured I'd head after the show.
The way theatre is treated in this place has to be see to be believed.
It was like going to a slightly flasher Rialto cinema, with flashy
lights and lots of people. Again, the locals were so friendly; an older
lady asked all about my journey and was very interested in what I was
doing. The art in here was awesome, too.
And then, the show. it's a hard thing to write about properly at
11.30pm Australian time (my body is screaming for sleep now) so I'll
probably save it and give more detail tomorrow. It was the most moving,
affecting theatre I've seen in a very long time (probably/possibly
ever) and they well-deserved their standing ovation that went on and on
and on and on ...
I was spat out an emotional wreck into the humid and grey air. It was
4.30pm and the gallery closes at 5pm, so there was no chance of getting
to the exhibition today. I did have a decent look in the design store,
though. Some awesome stuff in there!
And them over the road in another of those 'just look up and the thing
you are wondering about will be there' moments, I crossed the road and
headed down to the banks of the river again, where walkways were packed
tight with bodies for the Moomba festival. There were lots of rides and
attractions here, and I thought of my kids back home - they would have
loved that.
But it wasn't really for me, so up the steps I went and headed for
Federation Square. The free wifi that was promised here was no good
really, so I moved on fairly quickly down Flinders Street to do a
reconnaissance for the John Grant concert tomorrow night. I think I've
figured the trams out (two trams with a crucial connection to be
mastered tomorrow).
By now it was near to 7pm, and I was thinking food and rest. I got
brave on the train, and jumped off after I spied a little Indian
restaurant from the tram. The beauty here is the ease with which you
can jump on and off the trams without having to pay anymore. So I
jumped off, had a banquet meal and a kingfisher beer, and then jumped
back on again!
Haikus from Victoria Market #1
The sound of Greek rolls
naturally off the tongue.
Loving for Hellas.
Haikus from Victoria Market #2
I stand on the heel
of a Greek senior, but
she says: 'is okay'.
Haikus from Victoria Market #3
'One dollar one dol
are one dollar one dollar
kilo banana!'
Australia day 3
Haikus for the Homeless #1
When home is under
A train bridge, what can you do?
Buy 'The Big Issue'.
Haikus for the Homeless #2
Now I see the two
in the bed under the bridge
Aboriginal.
Day three and I'm so tired I feel like I'm going to pass out.
Today started with another great breakfast provided by the backpackers.
It makes such a difference knowing where your first meal is coming from
without having to think about it.
I was in contact with my old friend Nina and we arranged to meet in St Kilda
by the beach, but first I wanted to get to ACMI and the Cate Blanchett
Manifesto exhibition, and possible Ai Weiwei and Andy Warhol. Of
course, with twelve manifestos, I was never going to get to the other
before meeting Nina at 1.30pm. The exhibition was excellent, but very
cerebral and I felt my brain ache trying to fully understand Dogma,
Surrealism, Constructivism, Conceptual Art, Dadaism etc etc etc. It was
a wonderful overload.
I jumped on the tram and headed south, which was great having only
tootled around the city. Nina and I met at a funky little cafe down the
Main Street. My word, there are a lot of cake shops in St Kilda! And I
couldn't believe how busy it was, way busier than the city (or at least
equal to Flinder's Station). We had a great catch up and Nina sounds
happy in the suburb that made Kath and Kim famous. I don't think she'll
stay there longer than five years, though. I bet she marries and has
kids very, very soon.
I jumped back on the tram that took me directly to the National Gallery
of Vic and Andy and Ai. After an unsuccessful FaceTime attempt with
Aaron, I bought tickets for the exhibition and headed in. It was pretty
surreal seeing the Warhol silk prints that made him famous! Looking at
his art was like viewing a piece of history; that which makes and made
us. Looking at Ai Weiwei's work was like looking into the future. It
was an ingenious decision to exhibit them together.
I was kicked out of there at 5pm with the other plebeians, so I jumped
on the 96 tram back to The Nunnery. I ate leftover Indian food from the
restaurant meal the night before and then prepared (physically and
mentally) to go out again, for it was John Grant night at The Forum!
The venue is a lot like Sammy's in Dunedin; the stage has an amazing
proscenium arch. John Grant looked tired (if you ask me) and he
admitted it. I really loved it, but it was a pretty low key crowd (but
appreciative, nonetheless). I had to ditch John to get on the tram at
10.36, but I heard the first encore song, so didn't miss much. His
drummer was a stand out musician (I think his name was Budgie?) and I
felt satisfied with the evening. Even the trams went as planned! There
are so many people around on public transport, it feels more than safe.
Now I'm back in my room after a shower, and I'm going to sleep like a
baby. I'd like to go to Fitzroy and the Museum tomorrow, as well as
doing a dummy run to Southern Cross Train Station for early Tuesday
morning. I hope my texts work to Sarita! I'm just about in the nitty
gritty stage of the trip. Bring it on!
Australia - day 4
Haikus for evenings #1
The frogs hum their song
as we dance on and off trams
It's safe as houses.
Haikus in Brunswick #1
The accented girl
Stutters over my order
'It es my first day'.
Haikus in Brunswick #2
Frustration sets in
No op shops to be found here.
Then there was 'Savers'.
Haikus in East Brunswick #1
This place, a shithole,
Like 'Depressed in Preston'. Tram:
I randomly exited.
Day four ... and my energy is waning. Not so when I first woke: shower,
breakfast, bag preparations, exit. I decided to go exploring in
Fitzroy today, so I headed out on foot (yesterday was more of a tram day
than Saturday-the-mega-walking-day, so I figured walking again would be
good. Today was Labour Day in Australia - a public holiday - so very
little was open when I started to wander. But Fitzroy has some cool
shops; I just couldn't get in to them. After a frustrating hour or two
wandering around, I jumped on the East Brunswick tram to see where it
would go. It started to look a bit dire and run down (and depressingly
suburban) so I jumped off. I experienced my first rude Australian
getting on the tram; he was wearing grey marle trackies and looked like
he had a hard life in suburban Melbourne, so I'm trying not to hold it
against him. But it seemed to set the tone for the day. East Brunswick
is not where I wanted to be, so I walked to Brunswick (that took about
25 minutes). It didn't feel unsafe or anything, just depressed and
suburban. My idea of hell. But it was good to see a different side to
Melbourne, again. I say again, because of the homeless folk I saw in
the city. They were mostly under the bridges over the Yarra river. It's
a hard thing to walk on by, but what can you do? I bought a 'Big
Issue' at least, but even that felt tokenistic.
 |
| Vintage shop. Closed. Sob. |
As I turned the corner into funky Brunswick, Savers beckoned me as a
church would an evangelist. Savers is Australia's version of Savemart
and, while it wasn't a REAL Opshop, at least it was second hand
clothing. The afternoon started to look better. After an hour or so
there, I found a cafe and sorted out food and drink needs. I jumped on a
tram back towards the city and managed to get off at a place that meant
I could walk back to the hostel.
Dinner was a souvlaki at the local Greek joint in Fitzroy (another box
ticked, although I would have loved to have seen the Greek precinct in
the city. Oh well, you can't do everything in three days!) which was
pumping at 6pm - restaurants and music; it was very different to the
early morning!
And now I pack for Macedon and phase two - the great educational
unknown! After three days in my own world, I'm feeling a little nervous
about the hardcore interacting and socialising I'll be doing. But
anyone can do anything for four days - amIright? It still feels strange
that I've organised this trip and visits to these schools from a
spontaneous idea. I hope the spontaneity pays off!
PS Apparently I'm looking for the boy with the blue hair and following him. It's sounding like my kind of place already.
Australia - day 5
It was an early rise today: 5.30 am to catch the 6.26 am tram to the
station. I bade farewell to my little Nunnery room, and off I went. On
arrival at the station there was the usual confusion (for me) regarding
the myki card and where to touch it to ensure I had a valid ticket, but
after that initial confusion - I'd allowed myself half an hour for such
things between tram and train - I settled in, ready to rock, banana
walnut bread and flat white in hand.
 |
| 'Made in Victoria for Victorians.' |
Haikus on the train to Macedon #1
The man sits; his case
a transportable work kit
He will gain an hour.
Haikus on the train to Macedon #2
They say it's easy
But I still don't know how the
Damn Myki pass works.
Haikus on the train to Macedon #3
Waiting to depart
The sky lightens like paintwork
An ice-cool palette.
Haikus on the train to Macedon #4
The Chinese Gardens
have a thirty feet statue.
The gate looks like home.
I was greeted at the station by Sarita with a warm hug and an outgoing
Aussie accent. She is a dancer and moves like one, be it to explain
something or to open a fridge door.
Dylan was the born-in-New-Zealand-to-Kiwi-
parents-but-moved-to-Oz-aged-four
blue-haired boy I was told to look out for. I had several
conversations with him throughout the day - a cool kid really into
drumming and music.
I met Anne, the VCE English and Drama teacher and learnt that our
English is two subjects - English and Literature; Drama is also two
subjects - Drama and Theatre Studies (the former being the study and
creation of non-naturalistic forms of theatre; the latter realistic
study and discussion, but not much performance necessary). I was so
privileged to participate in a 'whoosh' Romeo and Juliet for junior
drama, discussion on Tim Winton's book/short story cycle 'The Turning'
(my Year 12 level/Year 11) and persuasive text analysis/writing with (my
level) Year 11(Aussie Year 10). I also got to sit in on Skye's
Philosophy class (Year 12 NZ - although a Year 11 student was in that
class, too).
 |
| The timetable for Term 1 |
The school has just started up, and is finding its feet (as any new
school would!) I think the evolution will be amazing: there are fabulous
people in charge/teaching here.
After school, I was so blessed to be hosted by Sarita at her amazing
home on Mount Macedon. I wandered up amongst the Eucalyptus trees,
feeling like I was really NOT in New Zealand. It is so good for the
soul to see other forms of beauty. Again, I'm struck by the human needs
for both adventure and security.
 |
| Sarita's house in the Macedon ranges. |
Australia - day 6
Today I presented my mihimihi at the staff meeting. I ran through a few
things about myself and the prize.
I've been super lucky with Anne and
her generosity with her classes.
Educational reflections: the kids are cool. But fairly similar to our
lot at Logan Park. The big difference is the lack of pressure over
uniform, hair and jewellery. Students are not concerned about pushing
boundaries in this way, obviously, as they have no boundary here. It's
really neat. Ditto students and staff mixing in the kitchen/cafeteria,
and calling staff by their first names. Teaching has been comparable to
Logan Park - the culture here is similar to the culture we have (but of
course, we're bigger). Fees are $12000 a year (so $250 a week). This
means some kids simply can't afford to go to Alice Miller. I don't have
a comparison with other Australian schools, but imagine they're not too
far from what we have in New Zealand.
Students at this school seem to have a confidence or a willingness to
'do the work', even if it's challenging. I'm thinking of a senior drama
session I watched today and the writing the Year 10 (NZ Year 11) were
doing. Students are still working out what to bring to each class, and
not having an indication of movement time (change of class) can mean
some students are a bit tardy. But not in a problematic way at all.
Funnily enough, one of the biggest reflections I've had (today in
particular) is the role access to nutritious food has on a student's
mental state. The lunch food is ALWAYS out and it's great stuff -
avocados, cheeses, crackers, wraps, lettuce, tomatoes,watermelon,
rockmelon, bananas, apples etc. No student has to worry about where or
when they will next be fed as it's right there and they can access it
between classes and at lunchtime. This means kids are really even and
happy. And teachers, as well. Knowing that's there makes a real
difference.
 |
| The kitchen. I didn't get any food photos! Fail. |
Tonight I'm feeling homesick for the first real time since I left. It's
taken 5 days, but it's happened! I'm also thinking about my classes,
rocking on without me. That's weird.
The classes here are very small (8 in Year
12 Drama, 10 in Year 12 English) and while that sounds pretty good, it's
a really different dynamic.
I wandered around the grounds after school today, and discovered the
soccer pitch amongst the Eucalyptus trees - amazing! It was hot today,
and I really enjoyed the dry, Australian air. The weather has only been
hot a few times over the 6 days I've been here. the mild grey days in
Melbourne were pretty Dunedin, actually.
There are two WOOFers staying in the cottages here at Candlebark
tonight. They've been here for a while (well, she has - he's just up for
a few days). She is French and he is English. They are both so very
young. Or I am now old, I'm not sure. Anyway, it means the thoughts I
had about space and time and no conversations are evaporating. I'm not
really going to get that space until I'm home.
Only two days to go - one at Candlebark tomorrow, and then a final day
at Alice Miller, before heading in to see the play 'Picnic at Hanging
Rock' with the school. Then I get myself to The Nunnery for my final
evening alone before another early morning on trams, buses and planes
(no trains this time). And home. Home, home, home.
Only four haikus today:
Haiku at Candlebark #1
Cockatoos fly free
Frogs chirrup their songs with joy
A hard day closes.
Haiku at Candlebark #2
The young couple are
Frying sausages without
the windows open.
Haiku at Candlebark #3
I even miss the
Nunnery with its city
vibes and low key air.
Haiku at Candlebark #4
I can see the plane
In my mind's eye; I'm boarding
and waving farewell.
This video is footage from a morning meeting at Alice Miller. A student was running it and played a DJ set. What a fabulous way to start the day's learning/teaching/being.
Australia - day 7
I woke after a great night's sleep, although getting rid of the fried
sausage smells was pretty intense - lots of tea towel waving and I found
the fan (why they didn't use it when cooking I do not know!). Thank
goodness they went out after dinner until about 1am, which meant I could
deal to it. I woke, showered and had breakfast outside on the bridge,
which was where I had listened to the frogs making so much noise last
night. Then I made my way up to the school.
Andrew was the first teacher to welcome me there, and I immediately
liked him. He was a Candlebark parent first; both his kids went to
Candlebark and are now at Alice Miller. Before becoming a teacher, he
worked at the Melbourne Museum. He was running the morning meeting (at
which different teachers and/or students teach or tell the school about
some aspect they know about or are interested in). He told us about
bones, and how they are cleaned! Because that flesh has to come off
somehow! It was a very cool way to start the day and, even better, it
was in the beautiful library. John (Marsden) then introduced me to the
school and made me feel very welcome. I wasn't sure how he felt about me
sitting in on his class and being at his schools, but today he was
really gracious. After school as I was waiting for the bus he also took
the time to ask how my day had gone. And he said 'you look a little
sunburned' to which I replied 'no, I'm just naturally ruddy'. LOL!
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| The Australian government likes to make it really clear. |
I ended up following a group of Year 4/5s (NZ) around for the day, which
was pretty cool. Kids are kids are kids, but there's definitely a
confidence in some of them that must come from attending such a
supportive/human/nurturing school. There's still the kids that find it
hard to focus and have autism and are on the asperger's spectrum, but
the school is a neat place to have these issues! It's the confidence
that I mostly noticed.
 |
| Walking the 1000 hectares. |
Again, I reckon always having food around when you need it makes a
child's whole day different. And, the thing I haven't mentioned yet -
the cleaning at the end of the day. It's really really really cool.
Kids know it's there responsibility and get on and do it. It was amazing
seeing 100 primary school kids get stuck into their various jobs at
3.05pm (cleaning is 25 minutes at the end of the day). There are heaps
of animals at Candlebark, too. Pigs, horses, cows, kangaroos ... yes! I
saw my first ever kangaroos last night, and then, when walking at
lunchtime, more in the bush! That was very exciting and I felt like I
truly was in Australia.
What else ... walking through the the bush to the abandoned house 30
minutes away was a real highlight. The bush is amazing - eucalyptus
trees for acres and acres. It's no wonder that bushfires spread so
rapidly. They look like kindling waiting to be thrown on a flame.
Today I was confronted with the idea that kids can't do English without
drama. That is, the visual telling of the story is a way that some kids
have to enter a story. I agree, but I'm not sure it's absolutely
vital, but I'm going to muse/think/reflect on that a bit more.
Obviously it's John's (Marsden's) theory, too, because it was the crux
of his two hour lesson the other day.
I'm not as homesick tonight as I was last night, which is great. I'm
back at Sarita's tonight, and it feels like home, which helps. Well,
like a home when you're at someone else's house. Not home like home!
Tomorrow will be both my last school day and last day in Australia. On
Saturday I catch my flight to Christchurch at 9 in the morning and then
it's just a hop, skip and a jump back to Dunedin. It's a pretty big day
tomorrow though, as I'll be at Alice Miller all day and then am going
with the school to a play in the centre of Melbourne! I'm not sure how
I'm getting back to the Nunnery, but I'm sure it will work itself out.
Until Day 8, Ka kite!
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| The amazing library at Candlebark. |
Australia - day 8
Last day at Alice Miller and the play and the Nunnery.
It's amazing how after only three days in a school I'm starting to feel
like I know the kids and can help them with ... stuff! The Year 10
class (NZ Year 11) are working on persuasive text analysis and it's
exactly the same as Unfamiliar text stuff at home. So I've felt like a
helpful person in this class, working with students one-on-one to put
their essays together. I know stuff about this and can help! That's a
really great feeling.
I've taken a break this period to ensure I do some writing about today -
it's pretty full-on otherwise as I'm going to 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'
tonight with the school. That's a play based on a book that is set in
this area (apparently it's pretty famous - I feel like I've heard the
title before, but I don't know anything about it). Plus, let's be
honest, it means I'm in the kitchen when the food comes out for lunch -
lunches are amazing here! There are two lunch sessions most days, and
the second session tends to be more dregsy than the first (for obvious
reasons).
I've thrown out my pink Skechers - the most comfortable shoes in the
world!!! - because they got drenched lasts night in the rain. They were
starting to fall apart anyway, and I'll happily buy some more when I'm
back in NZ. But I do feel a little bereft. In fact, the sun has now
started to emerge from the consistent rain of last night and this
morning, and I wondered if I could dumpster dive (well, rubbish bin
dive!) and retrieve the shoes. Desperado.
Last night's weather was incredible - thunder that rolled on for minute
upon minute, and flashes of lightning. It felt very different to a New
Zealand thunderstorm! I've made some pretty cool recordings whilst I've
been here, and that was one of them (at 2 in the morning.)
Haiku at Alice Miller on the final day #1
The sky is grey but
My heart is not. Teaching is
Collaboration.
Haiku at Alice Miller on the final day #2
Teens are all the same
Regardless of birth country
Similarities.
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| Whole school photo at the theatre on my last night. |
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| Ka kite Melbourne. Catching the 96 tram on the morning of my departure. |
