A Trip Down the Garden Path

I had an entirely new teaching experience today. One that put me a little bit out of my depth, but that was equally interesting, invigorating and rewarding.

One of the reasons I came over here was to enhance my breadth of experience as a teacher - to see how it's done on the other side of the world. Embracing this mantra, I've taken work in 5 different schools over here, some for a few days, some for a few weeks. And most interesting to note, of these 5 schools, 2 of them have been high school... and 3 of them primary schools. I'm fairly certain teaching in the toughest high school in Brighton then the cutest little Anglican primary school in Worthing, having year 9 English one week, then year 1 French a week or two later is a clear reflection of how unique this experience has a been. But it wasn't until today that I realized I'd pretty much taken a walk (or a desperate and frenzied run - as the situation demands) down a number of brand new avenues in that fathomless and enigmatic city we call teaching.

Today I worked in the nursery. Not the nursery one may consider frequenting to source life and colour for their garden, but a nursery where one would discover life in its earliest blossoming stages, on the cherubic faces of tiny ones in their first year of school. We're talking 3 and 4 year olds.

Now anyone who's seen me with a baby knows that it's all very awkward and foreign to me. Truth be told, I haven't a clue how to hold one, and I have a grave fear of hurting their weak and wobbly little necks (very very grave, verging on being petrified). All this aside, I do think they're just the sweetest little things and I know one day I will have one or two of my own little awkward bundles with wobbly, weak necks to contend with.

of course the littlies at nursery school (or kindergarten) don't need to be carried around, nor do they have necks that are of any concern. But they do demand the kind of attention that's a bit out of my realm of teaching experience.

Today I spent time singing about raindrops, and playing with water wheels. I've read 'In the Night Garden' stories and can now tell you who Igglepiggle is. I've turned skipping ropes, pretended to fly on an airplane and buried 'treasure' in the sandpit. I've also, chased a child through the school (she's a little runner who seems to delight in being chased), I've rubbed tiny little sore arms better, I've washed shoes that caught wee instead of the toilet, I've cut up lunches into tiny little bite size pieces and I've listened to words, sentences and long speeches containing words and squeals that I can barely decipher. And you know what? I've actually really enjoyed it all, well maybe not the wee part, but that's all part and parcel of guiding little minds towards growth through learning.

I've come to realize that little people are pretty amazing. And it's so special to see those bright sparks of sheer intelligence in minds so young (I was humbled when a little boy told me the paper airplane would fly better if I threw it more gently). How wonderful it is to be young and approach the world whole-heartedly with such wonder, excitement and positivity. There's a lot we can learn from those younger than us, namely to remember to delight in the tiny discoveries of daily life, to smile more, to dance and sing without inhibition and to laugh fully, right from the heart.

So guess where I'm working tomorrow? Yup, back in the nursery for the day, because there are stories to be read, treasures to be buried, skipping ropes to be turned and little lives to guide that are evolving at the speed of light.

I used to inwardly cringe when people called our great nation 'Aussie', as in 'I'm off to Aussie next year!' or 'you come from Aussie?' it's times like these I'd get a little tightness in my head as my brain would loudly pronounce 'It's Australia ok?'. Now, believe it or not, I find myself calling home exactly that: 'Aussie', in all it's grammatically incorrect glory (as we all know the word 'Aussie' is an adjective, and not an appropriate form of address for our noun 'Australia'). it's kind of an affectionate patriotic thing I guess.

Regardless 'Aussie' is what it's become, and what it may stay while I remain physically detached from it in this bittersweet sense for the remainder of the year. Yes, Glenny and I will be home in January, just about the time we've drained the bank account as a result of over holidaying and under working. It's been a lifestyle choice and a great one at that: who needs money in the bank? It's like totally overrated...just as long as we still have enough for a house deposit when we get back. Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, less work and more holiday is what we've decided. We don't foresee we'll ever be in this situation again, and with travel being so cheap and easy over here, we've decided to take advantage of it. so you will find there'll be a lot of travel going down on my blog for the rest of the year, and now you'll known that I'm a great big bludger who can't be bothered to work preferring to spend money rather than earn it.

Ha, enough oh crazy one, and let's get to the point of all this before people start to politely click on the X to escape this rambling. Well, here it is, some of the best things about AUSSIE, some of the things you can't get anywhere but AUSSIE, and some of the things that are just so AUSSIE that even AUSSIES can't help but think fondly of AUSSIE.

- Mum's cooking. It always looks like a banquet compared to mine, that's got to be a generational thing. I love how you can just be there and there's always enough for everyone. Oh and requests, yes indeedy: lasagne from my mama and beef in red wine from Mrs Harkes. Yup, I'm sold.

- laziness. There aren't really any slackos over here, at least not in the obvious sense. Everyone's always a go go, at least that's the way it seems: walking real fast on a mission to get somewhere. and if it's the weekend? Let's spend our time biking through the forest, or walking over the rolling hills. Don't get me wrong, this is all very good for the health and all, but really, when will I see a line of people sitting on the chairs outside the local shopping centre, waiting for a taxi (or not), how bout a big queue through the drive through at take out places? It's not KFC unless the drive through queue is out on the road.

- air conditioning. Aka, climate control. This baby allows you to have 100% control over the temperature of your world...always just cool enough.

- driving the CORRECT way. None of this left hand drive, miles or no undertaking business. and stop being so polite, it makes driving enjoyable, when it's something I have such a natural aversion to.

- Glen says lawn. he's a mowing champ. and with lawn comes two certain puppies, who shall remain nameless for fear on inciting tears...

- not having to pay for parking. Even dirt car parks are pay carparks in the UK. Oh and if you live inner town, forget about being able to park your car outside your house for free, nuh uh.

- castle hill. How I long to walk up a hill for exercise....how I long to do exercise. Where's the discipline gone? oh I left it at the shop with that nutella crepe today.

- feeling ripped off buying a book from the bookshop. Bookshops are such a rip in Aussie. on the other hand, books are far too cheap here...

- Aussie wildlife. Even those pesky possums, or screechy fruit bats. Who needs to see a cute little squirrel leaping across the local park when you can have those pests...

- driving everywhere. Who needs to walk? I think I've done enough walking to last me a lifetime, I want to drive to the corner store, or to the beach, or to the supermarket, or 10m down the road to a friend's place, In my air conditioned comfort of course.

- having a very clever hairdresser. Who knows just what to do and how to do it. Love you Loz...

- strict laws. There are rules for everything in Aussie. Even down to how long your dog can bark in a day (Harvey, I hope you're keeping the noise down), to how long you can have your hose on each day, ohh naughty naughty for hosing at 3:30pm.

And of course...
- people. at home, at work in my craft circles, from the past, wherever and whenever, there are always people you know. we're not ever been in a place long enough to makes those kinds of friends, we've met some really lovely people, but after a week or two we're all off to different places.

Done. I've had my rant, I've aired my views, I've made my point. the point being that things aren't all so bad about living overseas, and you'll have noticed some of my points were sarcastically loaded. This doesn't cancel the fact that home is always home, regardless of the good the bad and the just plain ridiculous. There's no place like home. See you next year!