WOW! This week totally flew by! I didn’t even have time to write one post! I was keeping notes for myself throughout the week about what to blog about. Little did I know it would all catch up to me on Friday evening! I realize now that I will almost not have time to write again until I am home. Tomorrow we are going to Brisbane and then coming home in the evening to pack. Lord knows that will be quite the task! I am expecting some extra baggage fees coming my way.
This week began with Monday’s teaching being a bit shakey. It did get better on Tuesday, mostly because I was more comfortable with all the material I was teaching for the rest of the week. Each day in the classroom became easier and easier. My teacher told me today was the most relaxed she had seen me with the kids. I feel like that’s the story of a elementary education major’s life – You just get so comfortable and then oh, just like that you are done with that classroom. I am glad that the next classroom I have I will not have to leave for nine months! :)
On Tuesday of this week, the school had a commemoration ANZAC ceremony. It was really neat because the choir sang the New Zealand national anthem and then at the end of the service the whole hall sang the Australian national anthem. I was really excited when I realized I had heard
the national anthem enough to be able to sing along! Such a cool moment! For this special ceremony they had guest speakers, the band and choir were in formal uniform, and the school chaplain read the Ode. I really love the ANZAC Ode, this is what it says:
They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.
These are all such beautiful songs, have a listen if you like :)
This week began with Monday’s teaching being a bit shakey. It did get better on Tuesday, mostly because I was more comfortable with all the material I was teaching for the rest of the week. Each day in the classroom became easier and easier. My teacher told me today was the most relaxed she had seen me with the kids. I feel like that’s the story of a elementary education major’s life – You just get so comfortable and then oh, just like that you are done with that classroom. I am glad that the next classroom I have I will not have to leave for nine months! :)
On Tuesday of this week, the school had a commemoration ANZAC ceremony. It was really neat because the choir sang the New Zealand national anthem and then at the end of the service the whole hall sang the Australian national anthem. I was really excited when I realized I had heard
the national anthem enough to be able to sing along! Such a cool moment! For this special ceremony they had guest speakers, the band and choir were in formal uniform, and the school chaplain read the Ode. I really love the ANZAC Ode, this is what it says:
They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.
These are all such beautiful songs, have a listen if you like :)
Australia’s National Anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B57QEEl97po
New Zealand’s National Anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPcj_aC8fk&feature=fvst
I Still Call Australia Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pxvjXll0PI&feature=related
On Wednesday, Angie and Ashley picked Kari and me up at 3:30 am to go the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Caboolture. This was a very touching memorial service to experience. A lot of veterans were present with their metals on their suit coats. We also got to see some of Australia’s military uniforms worn by current service men and women. We did experience some heart wrenching moments when we looked into the crowd to see many old men wiping tears from their cheeks.
After the Dawn service we stopped at Maccas (McDonalds) for a quick pick me up Frappe on our way to watch the sunrise at Deception Bay. It was one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. The coolest part was every time you turned around the colors changed just enough for us to “Ooh” and “Aww” each time. With a quick three hour nap on Angie’s couches we were ready to head to the parade in Caboolture. We got to the roadside just in time for Morayfield East kids to go by. We spent the rest of our day off in the comfort of our living room, just soaking in some
time off.
Thursday was the day all nine of us gathered to do our presentations. It was really great to see everyone’s perspectives on this experience. We shared ah-ha moments, inside jokes, laughs, and even tears. After we finished our presentations, we met with all of our cooperating teachers in the
library to gather around cake, fruit, and Tim Tams. Jenelle and Jenny (QUT Staff) gave us our certificates along with a book called Wombat Stew, which of course I can’t wait to read to my first graders in the fall! :)
It wasn’t even 8:15 am before my tears were sent rolling down my cheek this morning. Beginning our last day was definitely a bitter sweet moment. Jenny met with us to give us our evaluations, we took a group photo in front of the school and then said our goodbyes to her. I really lost it when we were taking pictures by the MSU banner hanging near the entrance to the school. Melanie (my roommate of the first three years of college) so sweetly asked me to take a picture with her. We have really been through so much together, it is unbelievable. And here we are, at the end of our college journey…. together… in Australia. We did it, Mel!
My teacher was kind enough to give me a half hour with the kids to shared pictures of home with the class. I showed them pictures depicting what we do for fun, traditions and we also discussed major differences between the two cultures.
Once I wrapped up my mini presentation, the class read me letters they had written to thank me for what I had done for them, they gave me A LOT of lovely gifts. And they even sang me a SONG! It went like this:
“We wish you a happy graduation, we wish you a happy graduation, we wish you a happy graduation and a very good career” (To the tune We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
It was just SO sweet, and totally creative. If I had known they were going to do something like that I wou ld have recorded it! It really was so sad for me to say good bye to these kids. I just wish there was an opportunity for me to come back and see the kids and Kylie again. However, Kylie and I plan to keep in contact. I can’t wait to get back to the U.S. and send them post cards, pictures, and videos!
We spent our last Friday evening in Oz with our host family, Angie, and Ashley. Angie and Ashley came over for supper. We had nibbles (appetizers), take out fish and chips plus two very American cheese burgers for Ashley and me. And if that wasn’t enough, we had the most delicious cheesecake for dessert! :)
It really was a lovely evening! One of the funniest things was that there wasn’t even a single Australian in the house! Bruce and Heather are from New Zealand. Angie is from Canada. And of course us girls are from America. We had a good giggle when this was realized. But, such is life… :)
As I said, tomorrow morning we are off to Brisbane with Angie to get a little more exposure to the aboriginal culture before we leave. It will be nice to see the city one more time, too.
TWO DAYS, FRIENDS! I can’t even believe it! I am beyond excited to get home --- not so much as excited for the three different flights it is going to take to get there.
Love to you all,
Xoxo
Megan
We spent our last Friday evening in Oz with our host family, Angie, and Ashley. Angie and Ashley came over for supper. We had nibbles (appetizers), take out fish and chips plus two very American cheese burgers for Ashley and me. And if that wasn’t enough, we had the most delicious cheesecake for dessert! :)
It really was a lovely evening! One of the funniest things was that there wasn’t even a single Australian in the house! Bruce and Heather are from New Zealand. Angie is from Canada. And of course us girls are from America. We had a good giggle when this was realized. But, such is life… :)
As I said, tomorrow morning we are off to Brisbane with Angie to get a little more exposure to the aboriginal culture before we leave. It will be nice to see the city one more time, too.
TWO DAYS, FRIENDS! I can’t even believe it! I am beyond excited to get home --- not so much as excited for the three different flights it is going to take to get there.
Love to you all,
Xoxo
Megan
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