Even though I'm now back living in Canada, I know that January 26th is Australia Day. Just think, this time last year I was watching the sunset over Uluru (Ayer's Rock) in the middle of Australia.
Wishing all my Aussie friends and happy and healthy Australia Day. I'm certain there will barbques and picnics galore, along with a beverage or twenty.
Oh, and for my Aussie teacher friends, like Labour Day for us in September, Australia Day means only one thing.... it's time to head back to work. Summer vacation is over.
Jan 25, 2010
Jan 24, 2010
Happy January
I can't believe it's been two weeks since I updated this blog. I guess being back at home I have a lot less exciting news to report.
Last Friday night my tri club held its official opening night. It was great to catch up with old friends. There were a ton of new faces too. That same evening a good friend from Calgary came to visit. It was so wonderful to spend the weekend with her. Even though I don't see her too often, when I do it's like no time has past at all. We had a fantastic visit and I'm hoping it will happen at least once a year. Apparently it's my turn to head to Calgary.
This week I also booked a trip to Mexico with one of my Ironman training buddies. Since I left Australia and pretty much headed right back to work in Canada I figure a warm vacation was in order. I haven't counted how many days until I'm going away again, but I know it will get here soon.
I'm still loving my school, my class, and my BOOKS. It's funny how much I missed all the children's books I own. Just this past week we did a mini unit on The Three Little Pigs. I own about ten versions of the story and it was so nice to have them, and have the children read/look at them.
I'm back running three times a week. I'm also swimming four times a week, and riding twice a week. A couple friends from work do a mini boot camp after school one day a week and I'm taking part in that too. Soon enough I will be super fit again, and I know when I'm super fit I'm usually super happy too (albeit a bit tired).
Oh and how could I forget, again, I went to another Canucks game. As usual it was a ton of fun and we WON so I can't even complain about the score.
The Olympics start in less than three weeks and my city is going to be a real crazy place to be. While I'm not looking forward to the traffic headaches I am looking forward to all the excitement around town. From where I live I'm able to walk to some of the major venues and I can assure you I will be checking out what ever I can.
Unfortunately the local mountains don't have much snow on them because we've had an extremely mild winter (it was 14 c last week). Obviously the Olympic committee has back up plans. I never thought I'd say this but I hope it gets colder and that the mountains get some more snow. I also hope that it's sunny while the Olympics are on. I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I tell you nothing beats a sunny day in Vancouver. But then again, maybe I don't want the entire world to know that.
Okay enough rambling for this week. I really should start taking pictures around my city 'cause this blog is awfully boring with out photos (that and I don't have anything exciting to write about these days).
Happy January
Last Friday night my tri club held its official opening night. It was great to catch up with old friends. There were a ton of new faces too. That same evening a good friend from Calgary came to visit. It was so wonderful to spend the weekend with her. Even though I don't see her too often, when I do it's like no time has past at all. We had a fantastic visit and I'm hoping it will happen at least once a year. Apparently it's my turn to head to Calgary.
This week I also booked a trip to Mexico with one of my Ironman training buddies. Since I left Australia and pretty much headed right back to work in Canada I figure a warm vacation was in order. I haven't counted how many days until I'm going away again, but I know it will get here soon.
I'm still loving my school, my class, and my BOOKS. It's funny how much I missed all the children's books I own. Just this past week we did a mini unit on The Three Little Pigs. I own about ten versions of the story and it was so nice to have them, and have the children read/look at them.
I'm back running three times a week. I'm also swimming four times a week, and riding twice a week. A couple friends from work do a mini boot camp after school one day a week and I'm taking part in that too. Soon enough I will be super fit again, and I know when I'm super fit I'm usually super happy too (albeit a bit tired).
Oh and how could I forget, again, I went to another Canucks game. As usual it was a ton of fun and we WON so I can't even complain about the score.
The Olympics start in less than three weeks and my city is going to be a real crazy place to be. While I'm not looking forward to the traffic headaches I am looking forward to all the excitement around town. From where I live I'm able to walk to some of the major venues and I can assure you I will be checking out what ever I can.
Unfortunately the local mountains don't have much snow on them because we've had an extremely mild winter (it was 14 c last week). Obviously the Olympic committee has back up plans. I never thought I'd say this but I hope it gets colder and that the mountains get some more snow. I also hope that it's sunny while the Olympics are on. I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I tell you nothing beats a sunny day in Vancouver. But then again, maybe I don't want the entire world to know that.
Okay enough rambling for this week. I really should start taking pictures around my city 'cause this blog is awfully boring with out photos (that and I don't have anything exciting to write about these days).
Happy January
Jan 10, 2010
Back to Work
This week I headed back to my Canadian school and I couldn't be happier. My exchange partner did a great job with my class and they are a real treat to teach. Even though it's only been one week with them I think it's one of the best classes I've had in my teaching carreer. My school is also a very wonderful place to work. It's a very multi ethnic school (I think I have ten language spoken in my class and a different ten than last year's class) with a great staff, and a supportive parent group. I'm reunited with my resources too, and so when I'm teaching something I actually have files to go to for ideas. Planning is the least of my worries these days and it is so nice to be back to all my favourite books.
For my students it is obvious they miss their Australian teacher but I think we are doing okay too as we get to know one another. In addition, just three days back at it I received a new student. I think for the 2009-2010 school year between my exchange partner and I we've lost two and gained two students. My latest student seems like a really great kid, and an excellent fit for our class.
It's been interesting for me to be referred to as the "new" teacher even though it's my classroom with my things in it. But of course for this set of parents and students I am the "new" teacher. I will do my very best to show them that while I may be new for them, I do know what I'm doing and I work very hard for their children.
As far as the rest of the school goes it's been great reconnecting with many of my former students and their parents. I don't get a whole lot done before or after school because I've been spending a lot of time chatting with parents. It's great though and I wouldn't change it for anything. My school really is a wonderful place to work, and it's been so nice knowing that I was truly missed. People are happy to have me back and I'm happy to be back. It many ways it feels like I never left.
Outside of work I have been getting back into my running and swimming (well sort of). I have been running consistently with my weekend training friends and after school with a good friend from work. It's still tough to go from pretty much non runner to runner again but I know that as long as I keep it up I will become a runner again.
My swim group is still as great as I remember it too. My swimming isn't as great but I was able to complete most of the work out with minimal complaining. It too will get better once I'm back swimming consistently.
My tri club has its official opening this Friday and that means the training will officially begin. Well, maybe not this weekend though because a really good friend of mine is coming to Vancouver to spend the weekend with me. I also don't have my bikes back yet either (they are still being stored at friends places).
Oh and how can I forget? Nancy H took me to the Canucks hockey game on Tuesday night (we won 7 -3). In fact since I've been back in Vancouver the Canucks have gotten a point in every game they have played. I know when I left town last year they went into a terrible nose dive in the standings. So it has me wondering if maybe I'm a bit of a good luck charm for them?
Anyhow, week two starts tomorrow with several changes being implemented in my classroom. There are a lot of changes I want to make but I think I'll let many of them just go for this year. These children were trained by my exchange teacher and while I do things differently than she does, I can handle most of what she was doing Obviously what I couldn't handle I've changed.
Just a few more weeks until the Olympics come to my city. I can't believe it.
Until my next rambling...
For my students it is obvious they miss their Australian teacher but I think we are doing okay too as we get to know one another. In addition, just three days back at it I received a new student. I think for the 2009-2010 school year between my exchange partner and I we've lost two and gained two students. My latest student seems like a really great kid, and an excellent fit for our class.
It's been interesting for me to be referred to as the "new" teacher even though it's my classroom with my things in it. But of course for this set of parents and students I am the "new" teacher. I will do my very best to show them that while I may be new for them, I do know what I'm doing and I work very hard for their children.
As far as the rest of the school goes it's been great reconnecting with many of my former students and their parents. I don't get a whole lot done before or after school because I've been spending a lot of time chatting with parents. It's great though and I wouldn't change it for anything. My school really is a wonderful place to work, and it's been so nice knowing that I was truly missed. People are happy to have me back and I'm happy to be back. It many ways it feels like I never left.
Outside of work I have been getting back into my running and swimming (well sort of). I have been running consistently with my weekend training friends and after school with a good friend from work. It's still tough to go from pretty much non runner to runner again but I know that as long as I keep it up I will become a runner again.
My swim group is still as great as I remember it too. My swimming isn't as great but I was able to complete most of the work out with minimal complaining. It too will get better once I'm back swimming consistently.
My tri club has its official opening this Friday and that means the training will officially begin. Well, maybe not this weekend though because a really good friend of mine is coming to Vancouver to spend the weekend with me. I also don't have my bikes back yet either (they are still being stored at friends places).
Oh and how can I forget? Nancy H took me to the Canucks hockey game on Tuesday night (we won 7 -3). In fact since I've been back in Vancouver the Canucks have gotten a point in every game they have played. I know when I left town last year they went into a terrible nose dive in the standings. So it has me wondering if maybe I'm a bit of a good luck charm for them?
Anyhow, week two starts tomorrow with several changes being implemented in my classroom. There are a lot of changes I want to make but I think I'll let many of them just go for this year. These children were trained by my exchange teacher and while I do things differently than she does, I can handle most of what she was doing Obviously what I couldn't handle I've changed.
Just a few more weeks until the Olympics come to my city. I can't believe it.
Until my next rambling...
Jan 1, 2010
Getting back to my life.
I've been home now for a little over a week. In that time I've caught up with many of my friends (although I'm not even close to being done). I've brought back boxes of my personal stuff into my apartment. I've donated away a ton including many items left behind by my exchange partner. I've run FOUR times too. It's really good to be home.
Unfortunately a little over 48 hours of having my car back on the road I was in an accident - I was hit from behind. I was hoping that I had gotten off injury free but four days later the pain arrived. Needless to say I need to get to my doctor. It's a lousy way to start a year but then it is also kind of an ironic way to end 2009.
Australia was an incredible adventure but work wise it was also very challenging . There was no one thing that was too tough for me to handle, but disappointment after disappointed really took its toll on me. Obviously my students meant a lot to me and I tried my very best to remain focussed on them, and their education. But in the process with all the little things that went wrong, over and over again I lost a piece of me. I'm not the Karen I was when I left a year ago.
People keep asking me if I'd do another exchange. It's not an easy question for me to answer. Professionally I struggled with a lot of what I saw, or didn't see happening. I struggled with the poor communication and the constant changing of expectations. Next time I'd ask more questions too before accepting my match. I know that I was just in the wrong school for the wrong year. I know the school won't have another year like it just had any time soon and I know that the odds of me getting into a school like that on another exchange are pretty slim. I also think I care too much and so things effect me personally. I didn't like feeling like I wasn't doing the best I could even though I was doing the best I could in the situation I was in. But despite all that I would go on another exchange - although ideally I'd love to have a partner to be with. I survived on my own, by having one support person would have been nice.
Right now I'm also feeling hurt that my exchange partner chose not to meet me. She was in Vancouver for two days after I arrived home but was quite clear with me that she didn't want to meet. I don't think she ever considered how her decision not to meet me may have effected me.
I'm glad 2010 has arrived. As I head back to work on Monday, I'm hoping that I'll be able to find some peace with in myself and let the sadness go. I'm lucky that I have so many people that love me and care for me. I know I still seem like I'm "strong Karen" but on the inside I'm not so strong these days.
As I write at the bottom of all my e-mails, "there is good all around you, you just have to be able to see it". It's there everyone. It's a good reminder for me, and hopefully a good reminder for you too.
Happy New Year! Wishing you happiness, health, and long lasting friendships. Together we can do anything. Here's to 2010 being as exciting as 2009, without all the stress.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Unfortunately a little over 48 hours of having my car back on the road I was in an accident - I was hit from behind. I was hoping that I had gotten off injury free but four days later the pain arrived. Needless to say I need to get to my doctor. It's a lousy way to start a year but then it is also kind of an ironic way to end 2009.
Australia was an incredible adventure but work wise it was also very challenging . There was no one thing that was too tough for me to handle, but disappointment after disappointed really took its toll on me. Obviously my students meant a lot to me and I tried my very best to remain focussed on them, and their education. But in the process with all the little things that went wrong, over and over again I lost a piece of me. I'm not the Karen I was when I left a year ago.
People keep asking me if I'd do another exchange. It's not an easy question for me to answer. Professionally I struggled with a lot of what I saw, or didn't see happening. I struggled with the poor communication and the constant changing of expectations. Next time I'd ask more questions too before accepting my match. I know that I was just in the wrong school for the wrong year. I know the school won't have another year like it just had any time soon and I know that the odds of me getting into a school like that on another exchange are pretty slim. I also think I care too much and so things effect me personally. I didn't like feeling like I wasn't doing the best I could even though I was doing the best I could in the situation I was in. But despite all that I would go on another exchange - although ideally I'd love to have a partner to be with. I survived on my own, by having one support person would have been nice.
Right now I'm also feeling hurt that my exchange partner chose not to meet me. She was in Vancouver for two days after I arrived home but was quite clear with me that she didn't want to meet. I don't think she ever considered how her decision not to meet me may have effected me.
I'm glad 2010 has arrived. As I head back to work on Monday, I'm hoping that I'll be able to find some peace with in myself and let the sadness go. I'm lucky that I have so many people that love me and care for me. I know I still seem like I'm "strong Karen" but on the inside I'm not so strong these days.
As I write at the bottom of all my e-mails, "there is good all around you, you just have to be able to see it". It's there everyone. It's a good reminder for me, and hopefully a good reminder for you too.
Happy New Year! Wishing you happiness, health, and long lasting friendships. Together we can do anything. Here's to 2010 being as exciting as 2009, without all the stress.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
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