mrs. clack...she's from canada

So, even though I've been teaching for 2 days- roughly 10 hour days, and Nic has all of the time in the world, apparently he couldn't find the time to write in the blog. Granted, he has become quite the domestic diva- he did our laundry, grocery shopping, cleaned the room and looked for housing. He says he "checked" out job sites- I am sure he's just calculating where he'll make the most money- and that really doesn't bother me because it's expensive here.

Anyhow, I worked in grade 1/2 for the past two days. My class was pretty good. They weren't as good at following rules- (not calling out, talking over me) but were learning way more advanced stuff than the average canadian grade 1. We read a book called sea jellies- and I learned more about jelly fish than I ever expected to in my life. The kids were able to read HUGE words (for a grade 1) with ease. Also, when we were investigating the long eeee sound... they came up with words like Emu and Broccoli.. I was impressed. And I wasn't in a "good" school. They rate every single school here in Australia and it falls below average. This is because of the socioeconomic status of most families. I was about a 45 minute train ride from the city and over half of the families had never visited the city. Yet, some parents were lawyers and very involved in their kid's life. Yard duty was, well, terrifying. A child brought a pocket knife to school.. and this was discovered while I was on yard duty. which was a HUGE area that I was in all alone. Canada has their butts covered when it comes to yard duty- enough teachers, and keeps the kids separated.... the school i was at integrates all grades in all areas. It was fight club. Literally kicking and punching. I was shocked at some of the swear words the kids knew... and one of my integration student's called her mother a bad word at pick up time. Granted, the kids were good for me. No complaints. The biggest dilemma was when one little boy kept telling a girl that she was his girlfriend (she didn't want to be) and she started to cry.

The kids taught me a lot too- like when we were learning about money and I was calling it a bill and they had no idea what i was talking about ... it's called a note mrs. clack (they really don't pronouce the "r") i was told. I showed them canadian money and they thought it's pretty neat that our 2 dollar coin is so big (australias is smaller than our penny) and i felt like i was at yuk yuks when i told them we call it a twoonie.

the staff was great and they asked me to come back. I shared a room with another 1/2 teacher- so I am assuming it was the fact that she was close by that they noticed me. They asked me back tomorrow- buuuut, nic and i really need to find an apartment (and i want to sleep in) and I had already taken myself off of the call list yesterday. It was a really great 2 days.

I miss mom & dad's tub the most. I so badly want a soak, book and glass of wine. But I settle for double bed, 8 channel television and painful shower... (nicki did buy some wino for me yesterday...)

I'm craving Pad Thai like nobody's business, so we're off to get dinner. Last night I was asleep by 8:30 and slept until 4:41. I am not as tired today, so maybe I'll make it a late night and stay up until 10!

Happy birthday shout outs to aunt cathy!