Doing a teaching placement in Australia has helped me grow in numerous ways. Not only did I benefit from this experience educationally, but personally as well. I learned a lot of teaching techniques that were different from those we use here. Perhaps one of the most influential aspect of my teaching experience was the community culture of the school. I have taken away the desire to build and foster relationships with all of the staff members at whichever school I am placed in. In Australia all the teachers gathered in the staff lounge for all breaks and lunch, which was very different from my experience here at home.
After dealing with people of all cultures, races, and personalities I feel I have developed in my communication skills. I worked and lived with people I have never met before, which was a challenge but forced me to think outside of my box and comfort zone. This has made me more confident in my abilities to work effectively with a variety of people.
I feel I have become way more cultured than I previously was. I took in a lot from all of those I interacted with in Australia. I spent all of my time trying to learn as much as I could. Upon my arrival back in America I have realized how many positive aspects of the Australian culture I have benefited from. I became more open to people’s differences and accepting of others. The culture in Australia is extremely laid back and accepting of others. Every person I interacted with from the teachers to the waiters in restaurants was extremely nice and helpful. This has changed me and really made me aspire to be a genuinely nice and caring person.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Educational Differences
Learning about Australia's educational system has been a great experience and has provided me with a wealth of knowledge. A typical primary level school day begins at 9 and ends at 3:30, with a morning break as well as lunch. All schools have what they call "morning tea", during which time children have time to eat a snack and play while teachers have thirty minutes for a break. During the lunch break students also receive a thirty-minute break for playing outside. I have really enjoyed these breaks, not only because I get a break but because I have seen the positive benefits the students gain. Although there are still behavior issues, the students get the adequate amount of time to be outdoors and exercise and then enter the classroom a little more calmly.
All of the subjects are very much the same to ours at home. The majority of the time is spent on reading, writing, and math (essentially the same as us). The atmosphere in the schools is a whole lot more relaxed compared to home. There are very little standardized tests given, and time is spent of students actually learning (not just teaching to the test). After explaining how our educational system works, the testing and scripted lessons, many of the teachers were appalled and surprised.
The major difference of our school systems involves the districting aspects. In Australia there is a large sense of competitiveness between schools (and NO this isn't based on test scores!). Parents are free to choose any school they would like for their child, even if it is an hour from where they live. They are not districted and are allowed to send their children to whichever school they desire. Since this is how things are done, many schools struggle to get a decent amount of students. Schools really have to market themselves (i.e. provide better technologies and more interesting excursions) to appeal to the parents. As a result many schools are under funded and do not receive very large student populations. I believe this aspect makes me thankful for how we decide school populations at home!
All of the subjects are very much the same to ours at home. The majority of the time is spent on reading, writing, and math (essentially the same as us). The atmosphere in the schools is a whole lot more relaxed compared to home. There are very little standardized tests given, and time is spent of students actually learning (not just teaching to the test). After explaining how our educational system works, the testing and scripted lessons, many of the teachers were appalled and surprised.
The major difference of our school systems involves the districting aspects. In Australia there is a large sense of competitiveness between schools (and NO this isn't based on test scores!). Parents are free to choose any school they would like for their child, even if it is an hour from where they live. They are not districted and are allowed to send their children to whichever school they desire. Since this is how things are done, many schools struggle to get a decent amount of students. Schools really have to market themselves (i.e. provide better technologies and more interesting excursions) to appeal to the parents. As a result many schools are under funded and do not receive very large student populations. I believe this aspect makes me thankful for how we decide school populations at home!
Friendships in a Foreign Country
Living with complete strangers was something I was extremely apprehensive about. On the plane ride here I was thinking to myself, what am I doing going to a foreign country and living with families I have never met before. Upon meeting my families my nerves were settled and I began to feel at home. I have split my time in half with two families and have become close with all of the family members.
Spending so much time together has allowed me to form bonds with both of the families. It has been so wonderful to feel so at home and comfortable with everyone I have met. I have really enjoyed getting to know all of the children in these families. My first family had younger teenage children, who I got to know very well. I was able to form a friendship with them, talk about everyday things, and even offer advice. The second family I have been staying with has slightly older children, who are around my age. I felt I could really relate to them, especially since they have all traveled to the states before!
It is an extremely good feeling to be so far from home but still feel like you have family and friends around. Taking the relationships and friendships I have formed home with me will be one of the most rewarding aspects of this trip.
Spending so much time together has allowed me to form bonds with both of the families. It has been so wonderful to feel so at home and comfortable with everyone I have met. I have really enjoyed getting to know all of the children in these families. My first family had younger teenage children, who I got to know very well. I was able to form a friendship with them, talk about everyday things, and even offer advice. The second family I have been staying with has slightly older children, who are around my age. I felt I could really relate to them, especially since they have all traveled to the states before!
It is an extremely good feeling to be so far from home but still feel like you have family and friends around. Taking the relationships and friendships I have formed home with me will be one of the most rewarding aspects of this trip.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
English Language Teaching
Write a one page description of the English Language Teaching you have seen at your placement school:
Improving literacy skills has been a school wide goal for at my placement this school year. They have just begun to use a program called Doorway Into Practical Literacy (DIPL). The DIPL program focuses on spelling, grammar, reading, and writing and is now used in all classrooms (prep through grade 6). In the beginning of the week students receive spelling words, which they practice visualizing and then writing. The major difference I have seen with this concept is the fact that they focus solely on the sounds of the words. For example, one of the students has a broken arm so I was writing down her words for her. She was orally spelling them to me, except she wasn't telling me the letters just the sounds. I kept telling her okay good you know the sound but what is the actual letter. I was later informed that my way of spelling is quite different from this program. I like the way they are focusing on letter sounds, however, as we all know there are letters that have similar sounds. One of the words was cuff and the young girl sounded out the word and I began to write c-u-f and she said that was right. I said are you sure this is right, she again sounded out the letters and said yes, still leaving out the last f.
Another technique in this program is the use of nonsense sentences. They have sentences that have difficult words in them but as a whole don't make a sense. The objective of this is to have students focus on sounding out the letter sounds and correctly spelling each word. They use words that don't make sense in a sentence to challenge students to focus on each word. I think this is a good technique and the students have shown growth in the 3 short weeks I have been here.
Each week the students learn a new grammar rule. They discuss vowel sounding, letter blends, prefixes and suffixes, etc. Overall, there technique in teaching literacy is extremely similar to ours. After discussing this with my teacher her, she explained that this is the first time they have followed such a regimented program. Most of the teachers do find it very hard to believe how structured we are in our teaching at home. The style is very much laid back here, which of course has it's pros and cons.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Foreign Language Experience
Since I am in Australia there has been no reason for me to progress in learning a foreign language. Although Australians have somewhat heavy accents, they do in fact speak English. There are some differences in vocabulary, as I have mentioned before. I have found myself somewhat confused at times by the vocabulary differences so I have had to ask the students and adults to clarify.
Common Differences:
Australia USA
Thongs Flip Flops
Rubber Eraser
Boot (of a car) Trunk (of a car)
Barrack (for a team) Root (for a team)
Maths Math or Mathematics
Full Stop Period (punctuation)
Jumper Sweater/Sweatshirt
Torch Flashlight
Common Differences:
Australia USA
Thongs Flip Flops
Rubber Eraser
Boot (of a car) Trunk (of a car)
Barrack (for a team) Root (for a team)
Maths Math or Mathematics
Full Stop Period (punctuation)
Jumper Sweater/Sweatshirt
Torch Flashlight
Monday, April 26, 2010
Significant Teaching Experience
I have been able to take over small groups during the maths section of the day. Maths is the Australian way of saying math or mathematics. The school I am placed in has combined grades, so I have been working with the grade 3-4. This is a combination of students in grades 3 and 4. For maths they are separated into two ability-level groups. I have taken over the higher of the two groups.
The grade 3-4 teachers follow a program called 'maths plus', which was handed to me to base my lesson off. I quickly realized the similarities in our math programs at home to the maths plus program in Australia. Upon glancing at the program I realized that the weeks assignments were purely worksheets. I realized I had to stick to the program somewhat but wanted to add some creativity to increase student's interest levels. I quickly began looking through resources to find math games and activities that focused on the same concepts. One lesson focused on addition and the laws of properties, so I incorporated a game with dice. Students were competing with a partner to reach 100 points. They rolled the dice and added the numbers to find the sum, they continued to do so keeping tracking mentally of their sum. I threw in a couple of rules to make the game a little more interesting. The students responded very well to this game and were grateful to be doing something different.
I continued the lesson by having students write their own definitions of the commutative property (this was the focus of the lesson). The students were very caught off-guard by this requirement. They were very apprehensive about writing definitions of math terms. The day before we spent the whole maths lesson working on the commutative property, so I knew students had a firm grasp of the concept. After complaining the students buckled down and wrote some definitions. I had the students share their responses, which proved to be a nerve-wracking experience. Every student in the group had written a clear and correct definition and I felt extremely proud. I provided each and every student with words of encouragement and they seemed to appreciate them very much. At the end of this lesson I truly felt that the students took away an understanding of a somewhat difficult math concepts, as well as a boost of confidence.
The grade 3-4 teachers follow a program called 'maths plus', which was handed to me to base my lesson off. I quickly realized the similarities in our math programs at home to the maths plus program in Australia. Upon glancing at the program I realized that the weeks assignments were purely worksheets. I realized I had to stick to the program somewhat but wanted to add some creativity to increase student's interest levels. I quickly began looking through resources to find math games and activities that focused on the same concepts. One lesson focused on addition and the laws of properties, so I incorporated a game with dice. Students were competing with a partner to reach 100 points. They rolled the dice and added the numbers to find the sum, they continued to do so keeping tracking mentally of their sum. I threw in a couple of rules to make the game a little more interesting. The students responded very well to this game and were grateful to be doing something different.
I continued the lesson by having students write their own definitions of the commutative property (this was the focus of the lesson). The students were very caught off-guard by this requirement. They were very apprehensive about writing definitions of math terms. The day before we spent the whole maths lesson working on the commutative property, so I knew students had a firm grasp of the concept. After complaining the students buckled down and wrote some definitions. I had the students share their responses, which proved to be a nerve-wracking experience. Every student in the group had written a clear and correct definition and I felt extremely proud. I provided each and every student with words of encouragement and they seemed to appreciate them very much. At the end of this lesson I truly felt that the students took away an understanding of a somewhat difficult math concepts, as well as a boost of confidence.
Significant Cultural/Emotional Experience
Although I personally feel I have not had to make significant cultural or emotional adjustments, there are vast differences in the political structures of Australia compared to those at home. I would not consider myself an expert by any means about the Australian government; however, I have come to learn a great deal about the way things are run. Australia is vastly influenced by the British, as evident in the structure of the cities, buildings, and their government.
There are some minor adjustments I have had to make during my stay here. The light switches in Australia are quite different from the American ones. They have sockets with switches to either allow the energy through or permit it from flowing into the appliance. Adjusting to vehicles driving on the opposite side of the road has taken awhile to adapt to. The larger problem with the vehicles is the fact that the steering wheel is located on the right side of the car. I have walked to the right side multiple times while being the passenger, which has been somewhat embarrassing.
Australians are very conscious of their energy and water. They are very conservative in their environmental approaches. As we at home are trying to become more "green", those I have interacted with here have already mastered this technique. Dryers are not typically found in many households, which is quite different from home. I did the wash and hung all of my clothing on the line outside to dry. Although I am used to hanging some things to dry, I have never hung an entire load outside. Since Australia suffers such droughts they are very conservative with their water. Showers do not last more than a couple of minutes and water is not served with every meal, as it is at home.
Although I have had to adjust to these minor differences during my stay, I would not say they are significant in any way. I must say the hardest thing I have encountered is adjusting to this laid back state of mind that Australians seize. The stress levels seem extremely lower than ours in America. I must say they have it right... "no worries"!
There are some minor adjustments I have had to make during my stay here. The light switches in Australia are quite different from the American ones. They have sockets with switches to either allow the energy through or permit it from flowing into the appliance. Adjusting to vehicles driving on the opposite side of the road has taken awhile to adapt to. The larger problem with the vehicles is the fact that the steering wheel is located on the right side of the car. I have walked to the right side multiple times while being the passenger, which has been somewhat embarrassing.
Australians are very conscious of their energy and water. They are very conservative in their environmental approaches. As we at home are trying to become more "green", those I have interacted with here have already mastered this technique. Dryers are not typically found in many households, which is quite different from home. I did the wash and hung all of my clothing on the line outside to dry. Although I am used to hanging some things to dry, I have never hung an entire load outside. Since Australia suffers such droughts they are very conservative with their water. Showers do not last more than a couple of minutes and water is not served with every meal, as it is at home.
Although I have had to adjust to these minor differences during my stay, I would not say they are significant in any way. I must say the hardest thing I have encountered is adjusting to this laid back state of mind that Australians seize. The stress levels seem extremely lower than ours in America. I must say they have it right... "no worries"!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Phillip Island
Phillip Island easily has won my vote for most fantastic spot in Australia (don't forget to take into account that I haven't seen the Great Barrier Reef haha). Hollie was able to join my host mom and I on our adventure to Phillip Island, which was really great. We arrived Saturday night and stayed the night in a family friends house about 10 minutes outside of Phillip Island. Sunday morning we woke up early and drove to Smiths Beach. Hollie and I were to begin our surfing lesson at 9:30 and both of us were as terrified as I think a human could be. Our main concern: Sharks! Needless to say we knew we couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn how to surf, even if we were going to be in the most dangerous water in the world.
Our surfing lesson lasted a couple of hours and was extremely successful. We were both able to stand up on our own, and we have pictures to prove it! After our lesson was complete our surf instructor told us of a shark attack that happened relatively close to where we were. I thanked him for lying to me at the start of our lesson and was extremely relieved that we survived.
We toured all around Phillip Island visiting the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The beaches were extremely beautiful, as you can see from the pictures, and there were many wild animals including the penguins. At dusk we arrived at the "Penguin Parade" where we excitedly waited the arrival of the penguins. The penguins arrived and we watched hundreds of them waddle out of the water and up the paths to their burrows. There are no words to describe how amazing this truly was. It was so awesome to witness the penguins in their own habitats out in the wild. No pictures are allowed to protect the little penguins, which is somewhat of a disappointment but I have google imaged some pictures for you all. If Australia isn't on your list of places to visit, I encourage you to add it... Phillip Island gets an A+++++ in my books :)
Lifestyle Differences: MD vs. AU
I have been living with one of the teacher's families and have truly enjoyed their house! I feel very comfortable with all of the family members and have enjoyed getting to know all of them. Although I have enjoyed my "home away from home" so far, there are some differences in the lifestyles in Australia and home in Maryland.
I am fortunate to have all of the privileges I have at home here in Australia. I have had access to internet, have my own private room, washer/dryer, food, etc. Since Australia and America are so similar there really have not been major differences. The largest difference I have experienced while living here is the language. Although we all speak English, they have a bloody different vocabulary (as they would say). It has been somewhat hard to get on the same page in conversations and I have had to ask a million questions. I think being open-minded and allowing myself to just absorb all I can is the best way to take in everything.
The family I am staying with have two teenage children. After having many conversations with them I must say there experiences are very much similar to mine at that age. As I have learned from them, the major differences in our lifestyles are regarding sports. I have been becoming a pro about "footy", which is vastly different from our American football. They play cricket, netball, and a couple other sports, which have not caught on in the States. The children are very big on sports here in Australia, which I believe is not that different from those at home.
Food seems to be one of the largest differences here. Typical dinners and meals in Australia consist of many foods I eat at home; chicken, spaghetti, steak, etc. Although these are more or less the same types of food I would be enjoying at home there are some unique foods found here. The other night for dinner we had fish and chips, which of course is a fairly typical food at home. I ordered the flake, they said it was the best fish, and it tasted delicious! A couple hours later I found out it was shark. I was caught off-guard but honestly enjoyed the taste, I would probably eat it again. Other large differences in food include Vegemite, cheese-mite, and kangaroo. Most of the other food options are the same (or very similar) to ours in MD. The one thing they have found gross is the concept of peanut butter & jelly, but I haven't given up my love for PB&J yet!
Since I have only been with my host family for only a couple of days now I feel there are still differences in lifestyles I have yet to see. Overall I believe it is fair to say that the lifestyles of us Marylanders and Australians are similar in a lot of aspects.
I am fortunate to have all of the privileges I have at home here in Australia. I have had access to internet, have my own private room, washer/dryer, food, etc. Since Australia and America are so similar there really have not been major differences. The largest difference I have experienced while living here is the language. Although we all speak English, they have a bloody different vocabulary (as they would say). It has been somewhat hard to get on the same page in conversations and I have had to ask a million questions. I think being open-minded and allowing myself to just absorb all I can is the best way to take in everything.
The family I am staying with have two teenage children. After having many conversations with them I must say there experiences are very much similar to mine at that age. As I have learned from them, the major differences in our lifestyles are regarding sports. I have been becoming a pro about "footy", which is vastly different from our American football. They play cricket, netball, and a couple other sports, which have not caught on in the States. The children are very big on sports here in Australia, which I believe is not that different from those at home.
Food seems to be one of the largest differences here. Typical dinners and meals in Australia consist of many foods I eat at home; chicken, spaghetti, steak, etc. Although these are more or less the same types of food I would be enjoying at home there are some unique foods found here. The other night for dinner we had fish and chips, which of course is a fairly typical food at home. I ordered the flake, they said it was the best fish, and it tasted delicious! A couple hours later I found out it was shark. I was caught off-guard but honestly enjoyed the taste, I would probably eat it again. Other large differences in food include Vegemite, cheese-mite, and kangaroo. Most of the other food options are the same (or very similar) to ours in MD. The one thing they have found gross is the concept of peanut butter & jelly, but I haven't given up my love for PB&J yet!
Since I have only been with my host family for only a couple of days now I feel there are still differences in lifestyles I have yet to see. Overall I believe it is fair to say that the lifestyles of us Marylanders and Australians are similar in a lot of aspects.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Camp Weekaway
As some of you know I had the opportunity to go on a camping trip with the 3rd and 4th grade students. I was extremely apprehensive about this trip and was really not looking forward to it. Despite my prior worries I truly enjoyed myself!
We left for camp on Monday and came back on Wednesday, I was completed exhausted and headed to bed around 8:30 last night. The camp was called Camp Weekaway, although we were only there for 3 days. The accommodations at the camp were wonderful, we got fed great and the dorms were clean and spacious. It was a great way to be introduced to the students and teaching staff.
The camp had a large array of activities arranged for the students. They had a set of activities they called initiatives, these were team activities with one common goal for the kids to achieve. The students seemed to struggle a bit at first; however, they really came together by the end of the trip. There were ropes courses and zipwires for the students to do, along with a night walk (which terrified most students). The students were separated into smaller groups, which meant they all weren't always with their friends. The students really seemed to learn the meaning of a team, what it takes to work cooperatively and respectively together. Witnessing students cheering each other on and truly exciting that one another had overcome their fears was priceless! I was very impressed that the school took on this type of trip for students of such a young age to experience.
I have been very impressed by the students! They asked me such great and enriched questions about the States. I have already learned so much from them, they have been great at explaining everything I don't understand, and look forward to seeing them in the classroom. These kids can really hold a mature conversation with you, while at the same time still be a animated kid.
Not only was this a great educational experience, I got a taste of the true Aussie lifestyle. Every morning there were dozens of wild Kangaroos surrounding the cabins. They were so tame and came only a couple of feet from all of us. I also got some courage and tried Vegemite! It was disgusting, but they were impressed I tried it. I will be starting my time in the classroom and will be excited to see the differences between our education and theirs.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sydney Recap
We arrived in Sydney very early in the morning, so early in fact that we couldn't check into our hostel. We decided to rent some lockers for all of our luggage (we had quite a bit!) and head out to tour the city. Darling Harbour, a popular site in Sydney, was a short fifteen-minute walk from our Hostel. The harbour had a lot of shops, restaurants, and a couple of the tourist attractions. We did some browsing and enjoyed the beautiful sites this location provided. We dined here for dinner on our first night. After walking from place to place, trying to find a restaurant that wasn't frightfully expensive, we settled on a cute outdoor bistro. The food portions are smaller than we are used to in the states and more expensive as well. The biggest adjustment for us was getting used to the lack of water. Almost everywhere you go here in the city you have to buy a bottle of water, which is $3 AU for a small bottle. It was rare to find a restaurant that would give us a free glass of water.
Prior to leaving the states we purchased a 3-day "See Sydney Smartvisit Card". This card allowed us to access all of the main attractions anytime throughout a 3-day period. On Sunday we started using our cards. We first visited the aquarium. The aquarium was bigger in size and attractions compared to the Baltimore aquarium. They had similar attractions but also had Penguins (my personal favorite) and Dugongs (very similar to a manatee). They also included a Great Barrier Reef attraction, which was breathtaking! We left the aquarium and headed over to the Wildlife Center. Here were able to see Kangaroos, Koalas, Butterflies, and plenty more. Both the Kangaroo and Koala exhibit were the best. While in the Kangaroo exhibit we were able to witness two male Kangaroos fighting. They prop themselves up on their tails and use all of their limbs to fight each other, looking very similar to a boxing match! We walked thirty minutes to Circular Quay to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This is when we took a boat tour around the harbour, seeing Nicole Kidman's, Russell Crow's, and the Prime Minister's houses. We also got to witness a seal crawl onto a buoy out in the middle of the water, which was an added bonus! We visited the Opera House and took an hour tour, which provided a lot of interesting information about the creation and uses of the Opera House (they even had a skate park inside at one point!).
On Wednesday we took a 2-hour train ride up to Katoomba, this is where the famous Blue Mountains are located. The weather was rainy and somewhat miserable so we decided to visit the Jenolan Caves. After having to purchase pants, since it had not been raining when we originally left Sydney, we boarded a bus to the caves. It was about another hour and a half ride down a small twisted road. Although the ride wasn't very smooth, we were able to see wild Kangaroos and Wallaby's along the way. Once we arrived we had some time to walk around before our tour would begin. We walked around a lake located right next to the cave. The water was a beautiful blue shade, which is unbelievably beautiful. We learned that the water is this color due to the limestone in the area. It really was a fantastic sight! The tour through the Lucas Cave lasted about an hour and a half and was very interesting. The cave had a total of 910 stairs and was the most difficult cave they offered for tours. Feeling adventurous we headed on in. The formations inside the caves were remarkable. We were informed that this particular cave has been used for weddings and even concerts! At the end of the day we all agreed that the long journey was worth it and wished we had more time to explore the mountain.
Our last two days were spent at Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye) Beach. This was the most gorgeous beach I have ever seen (and I have been to the Caribbean a couple times). Although the water was cold we had very warm weather and enjoyed basking in the sun for quite some time. The water was very cold so no swimming, although we did put our legs in (now I can say I experienced the dangerous waters of Australia!). I am writing this blog from the airplane, we are headed to Melbourne to finally meet our host families. Our flight was canceled and we ended up having to pay an extra $150 for our luggage, since it is a domestic flight. Needless to say we have had a somewhat stressful morning/afternoon! I will going on a trip on Monday – Wednesday with the 3rd and 4th grade students. I don't know all of the details but I was informed I will be taking a sleeping bag. As I am deathly afraid of snakes (and Australia has several of the world's most poisonous) I am praying I will not be camping in the outdoors. More updates to come once I have landed and gotten settled in!
Prior to leaving the states we purchased a 3-day "See Sydney Smartvisit Card". This card allowed us to access all of the main attractions anytime throughout a 3-day period. On Sunday we started using our cards. We first visited the aquarium. The aquarium was bigger in size and attractions compared to the Baltimore aquarium. They had similar attractions but also had Penguins (my personal favorite) and Dugongs (very similar to a manatee). They also included a Great Barrier Reef attraction, which was breathtaking! We left the aquarium and headed over to the Wildlife Center. Here were able to see Kangaroos, Koalas, Butterflies, and plenty more. Both the Kangaroo and Koala exhibit were the best. While in the Kangaroo exhibit we were able to witness two male Kangaroos fighting. They prop themselves up on their tails and use all of their limbs to fight each other, looking very similar to a boxing match! We walked thirty minutes to Circular Quay to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This is when we took a boat tour around the harbour, seeing Nicole Kidman's, Russell Crow's, and the Prime Minister's houses. We also got to witness a seal crawl onto a buoy out in the middle of the water, which was an added bonus! We visited the Opera House and took an hour tour, which provided a lot of interesting information about the creation and uses of the Opera House (they even had a skate park inside at one point!).
On Wednesday we took a 2-hour train ride up to Katoomba, this is where the famous Blue Mountains are located. The weather was rainy and somewhat miserable so we decided to visit the Jenolan Caves. After having to purchase pants, since it had not been raining when we originally left Sydney, we boarded a bus to the caves. It was about another hour and a half ride down a small twisted road. Although the ride wasn't very smooth, we were able to see wild Kangaroos and Wallaby's along the way. Once we arrived we had some time to walk around before our tour would begin. We walked around a lake located right next to the cave. The water was a beautiful blue shade, which is unbelievably beautiful. We learned that the water is this color due to the limestone in the area. It really was a fantastic sight! The tour through the Lucas Cave lasted about an hour and a half and was very interesting. The cave had a total of 910 stairs and was the most difficult cave they offered for tours. Feeling adventurous we headed on in. The formations inside the caves were remarkable. We were informed that this particular cave has been used for weddings and even concerts! At the end of the day we all agreed that the long journey was worth it and wished we had more time to explore the mountain.
Our last two days were spent at Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye) Beach. This was the most gorgeous beach I have ever seen (and I have been to the Caribbean a couple times). Although the water was cold we had very warm weather and enjoyed basking in the sun for quite some time. The water was very cold so no swimming, although we did put our legs in (now I can say I experienced the dangerous waters of Australia!). I am writing this blog from the airplane, we are headed to Melbourne to finally meet our host families. Our flight was canceled and we ended up having to pay an extra $150 for our luggage, since it is a domestic flight. Needless to say we have had a somewhat stressful morning/afternoon! I will going on a trip on Monday – Wednesday with the 3rd and 4th grade students. I don't know all of the details but I was informed I will be taking a sleeping bag. As I am deathly afraid of snakes (and Australia has several of the world's most poisonous) I am praying I will not be camping in the outdoors. More updates to come once I have landed and gotten settled in!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Our traveling experience: Welcome to Sydney!
Although I have traveled before, I have never stayed in a hostel. This experience is very new to me and I have been somewhat apprehensive. After we feel asleep on the first night we woke up to a girl moving into our room. I was surprised to see a total stranger coming into our room and nervous for how this situation would pan out. We never saw this girl in daylight, never spoke one word to her, and she was gone first thing in the morning. Although this concept is somewhat bizarre to me, I am learning to think more outside my box (comfort zone) and become more open-minded to these types of experiences. It also helps that it has been a couple of days and nothing of ours is missing from the room :).
For the most part we have walked to tour the city. We have taken a free bus/shuttle around to the further destinations like the Opera
House and Harbour Bridge. Australians have really impressed me with their outspokenness and ability to offer advice to complete strangers. I am unsure if we just look like we don't know what we are doing, but many people have helped to steer us on the right path. For instance, when we were visiting the Opera House and Harbour Bridge we were planning on taking a ferry back to Darling Harbour (which is close to where we are staying). The man suggested we not take the ferry but instead take a jet cruiser, this allowed for a forty-five minute tour. The boat tour was excellent and I could not have been more grateful for his advice. Today we traveled by train to reach the Blue Mountains. Unfortunately, it rained the entire journey so our view was somewhat obstructed. It was very nice to take a break from the city and see more of the countryside. The train system is very similar to ours except for the fact that the seats flip back and forth, allowing passengers to face the direction they are moving. So far our travel experience has been a blast and a great growing opportunity... more to come soon.
For the most part we have walked to tour the city. We have taken a free bus/shuttle around to the further destinations like the Opera
House and Harbour Bridge. Australians have really impressed me with their outspokenness and ability to offer advice to complete strangers. I am unsure if we just look like we don't know what we are doing, but many people have helped to steer us on the right path. For instance, when we were visiting the Opera House and Harbour Bridge we were planning on taking a ferry back to Darling Harbour (which is close to where we are staying). The man suggested we not take the ferry but instead take a jet cruiser, this allowed for a forty-five minute tour. The boat tour was excellent and I could not have been more grateful for his advice. Today we traveled by train to reach the Blue Mountains. Unfortunately, it rained the entire journey so our view was somewhat obstructed. It was very nice to take a break from the city and see more of the countryside. The train system is very similar to ours except for the fact that the seats flip back and forth, allowing passengers to face the direction they are moving. So far our travel experience has been a blast and a great growing opportunity... more to come soon.
What to expect?
As I am preparing to leave I am finding that I am unsure of what to expect. I am extremely excited, although a little overwhelmed with all this packing! I am unsure of how my teaching experience in Australia will pan out. I will be working with the 3rd and 4th grade classes, and couldn’t be more excited. The only thing I have found out thus far about my future teaching experience is that I will be going on a three day trip with the 3rd and 4th grade students. I have yet to hear what I will be doing during this time, but am excited for the opportunity to go on a trip!
I believe the Australian school system will be very similar to our systems here. I have read a little bit about the reading in the school systems in Australia. They place a large emphasis on reading, which I look forward to learning all about. I am excited to see the differences in our school systems. I find myself somewhat nervous when thinking about this future teaching experience. Am I prepared to teach the students in Melbourne? Will the students and teachers welcome me? Although I have concerns I really am looking forward to starting this journey 
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