Week of May 14 and May 21 - Teaching Winding down, Day Sailing, The Voice

Panorama of Sailing

The past two weeks have been another two weeks were teaching has taken up much of my time.  I have had Year 7 and Year 8 for the past few weeks and recently just gave back Year 12. It's been a fun experience teaching all of the classes.  I enjoy teaching the younger years one class a day because of their enthusiasm and energy, but this experience has further confirmed my view that I would rather teach high school as opposed to middle school.  This Monday, Brittany and I will be switching schools for the day and I'll be going to her school (Normanhurst Boys) and she'll be coming to mine (Asquith Boys).  It should be a good experience for both of us, as although both of our schools are public schools, her school is a selective school meaning you have to pass an exam to get in and they only take a certain number of students.

As my teaching experience enters it's last week, it has been an unforgettable experience.  The faculty at Asquith, specifically the math department has been so welcoming and helpful throughout the experience.  I could not have asked for a better mentor teacher for my overseas experience than Jim French, and the overall department has just made the experience so comfortable and easy for me.  Although the teaching styles and school setup are different, when it comes down to it teaching kids is very similar no matter where you are, and this experience has really been a great one.

Captain Andrew

Besides the teaching there were some other highlights during the past two weeks.  Last Saturday we went spent the day sailing courtesy of Bobby and Maddie's friend Greg.  It was a beautiful day for sailing, with temperatures in the low 70s.  We set out around 8:30 am and didn't get back till 5 pm.  The only problem with the day was the lack of wind!  There was enough wind to sail the way out, but we had to motor back the way in.  We made it to place called America's Bay, which was a nice little treat, and I got to captain and steer the boat back for most of the return trip which was an added bonus. 

Joel Madden, Delta Goodrem, and Keith Urban

Last Monday, Brittany and I attended a taping of The Voice courtesy of Maddie who is the Director's Assistant for the show.  She's also been the DA for many other big shows in Australia, she's a big shot! It was another amazing experience.  It was a very impressive show and we had great seats.  It's the most popular and watched show in Australia, and has some big name judges like Seal, Keith Urban, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem (famous Australian singer).  It's very cool to be at a live show, that millions of people across the country are watching.  After the show we got to go behind the scenes into the production truck where we met the Director and some of the other people involved in the show.  Just another thing to check off on my Australia list. 

The set of the The Voice

My parents arrive next Monday (just 8 days away!) and we'll be doing a lot of travelling then.  I can't believe I've already been here for almost 2 months.  What an experience it has been!

-Andrew

Australian Words/Phrases

Cheeky - Used to describe someone who is being a bit of smart ass or fresh

Buck's Party - Bachelor Party

Mucking Around - Fooling around, acting silly

Weeks of April 30 and May 7 - Teaching and a few Excursions!

I've been slacking on blog posts for the past two weeks for a couple of reasons.  I've been in full swing with teaching.  Although, I only have two classes that I'm teaching, school is taking up much of my time so that means less time for blogging.  Also, I haven't done as many as exciting over these past two weeks as school has taken priority and much of my free time is jammed into the weekends. 

With that said the teaching is going very well.  I have been teaching Year 7 and Year 12 for the past two weeks.  Unlike in the U.S. they don't have class everyday, Year 7 only has class 7 days per fortnight and Year 12 has class 8 days per fortnight.  The Year 7 class I am teaching is the highest level math class for the year.  They are very good class who always works hard and most of them are eager to learn.  It's very enjoyable to teach them, mostly due to their eagerness to learn and their enthusiasm each day.  On the other end of the spectrum is Year 12 class, which I enjoy teaching equally as much for different reasons.  It's easier to relate more to the Year 12 class as they are much more mature, and although it is a General Mathematics course, meaning for many of them math is not their favorite subject it is also a very enjoyable class to teach.  Over the next few weeks in the school, I'll be getting the Year 8 class and possibly Year 11.  Both of these classes are hard-working and at the higher academic levels, so I'm sure they will also be enjoyable to teach.

Although teaching is taking up much of my time, I still have had some time to do some more exploring around Sydney.  I went on a field trip (or excursion as they call it) last week to the Hyde Park Barracks and Police and Justice Museum in Sydney.  Both places were very interesting.  The Hyde Park Barracks served as a housing area for convicts that were sent to Australia, and it was a very cool place to visit.  The Police and Justice Museum was also very interesting and we go to see some of the holding cells they used to use, weapons from famous crimes as well as several other things.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera on that day!  During the past few weeks I've seen several more rugby games (this time of the high school variety).  There are two types of rugby, rugby league and rugby union.  Depending on who you ask they'll say one is much better than the other.  I haven't really formed an opinion yet, but the past few games I've seen have been rugby union and they've been pretty fun to watch.

It is crazy to think I have already been in Australia for 5 1/2 weeks and teaching for 3 weeks, which means I reached the halfway mark in both my total time in Australia and my teaching time.  It has been an amazing experience so far and there is nothing I can complain about.  Everyone I have met has been so welcoming and friendly and have made the experience that much more enjoyable and fun.  It will definitely be difficult leaving when that time comes.

-Andrew

Australian Words/Phrases

-Australians love to use the words "reckon" and "heaps"

-Bushwalking - Hiking

-She'll be right : it'll turn out okay or don't worry about it

Week of April 23 - First days of teaching, Anzac Day, Rugby Game, Palm Beach

View from the top of Palm Beach  

Now that teaching has started my blog posts will probably be coming much sporadically as the time is not there for daily posts.  With that said, I will still be posting at least once a week.  As I said this was my first week in the classroom and it was very enjoyable.  Monday was a staff only day so I was able to get acquainted with everything, spend time with my teacher and the rest of the math faculty and get organized.  Then on Tuesday the students came. I was introduced to the students in the classes, but the day was mainly observational. Unlike back home a teacher and students' schedule changes every day on a 2 week cycle.  For example, a student may have Math (or Maths as they say here) Period 2 on Monday, then not have it at all on Tuesday and then have it Period 5 on Wednesday and so on.

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo on School Ground

Wednesday was a day off from school for Anzac Day.  Anzac stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, and can be best described as Veterans/Memorial Day on steroids.  The day begins with dawn services/parades that begin literally at the crack of dawn (we were up at 4 am to go to the local one).  The service is a remembrance and appreciation for all those who have served the countries, it is a pretty cool thing and was a strong showing of Australian patriotism.  Later on that day, Bobby and I went to a local town gathering area to play a game called Two-Up.  It's an Australian game that is only legal on Anzac Day.  Basically, there is a big ring (a little bigger than a boxing ring) and then people surrounding it.  One person goes in the middle and flips two coins, the people on the outside are then making side bets between one another betting either on heads or tails.  The coin flipper continues to flip until both coins land on the same side.  It's a very simple, but very fun and enjoyable game which I made some many on!

The deadliest snake in the world! 

After Wednesday's fun it was back in the classroom for Thursday and Friday.  I'm getting more and more comfortable in the classroom and doing more things, and next week I'll teach my first lessons to the Year 7 (Grade 7) students which should be fun.  On Friday, we had a reptile guy come in and give a presentation to the Year 7 students which I had the pleasure of attending.  I learned about the most poisonous snake in the world (the fierce snake) and even had a python around my neck (I don't have a picture on my camera though!).  It was another fun day though all around. 

My cooperating teacher, Mr. French with the python wrapped around his neck!

Friday night, I teacher from my school very graciously took Brittany and me to a Rugby League game.  It was a very fun experience, even though the team she and I were rooting for lost.  The game was held at ANZ stadium which was the main stadium for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 so it was pretty cool to be there as well. 

Rugby Game (NRL) game at ANZ Stadiu

On Saturday, the teacher took Brittany and me to Palm Beach.  Palm Beach is another of Sydney's famous beaches.  We hiked from the beach area at the bottom up to the top of the cliff where the lighthouse was.  It was a fun walk with some spectacular views along the way. 

View from Newport Beach

View back at the lighthouse from Palm Beach (actual beach area)

View off of one of the rocks during our hike

In a rock cave!

-Andrew

Aussie Words

Jumper - Sweater, Sports Jersey, Sweatshirt

Rubber - Eraser

Bushwalk - To hike 

Days 15-17 (I think) - Night Out in Darling Harbour

Wednesday and Thursday were pretty light days overall.  I spent most of Wednesday finishing up all the work I needed to and Thursday I had dinner with Brittany's host family at a Chinese Restaurant which was very good.  On Friday, we spent most of the day in the town of Hornsby just walking around the shopping centre (mall) and enjoying the nice weather. 

Little Gecko on the Deck!

The highlight of the past few days though was the first night out in Sydney on Friday.  Brittany and I took a train from Hornsby where I'm staying into the center of Sydney.  The train was only about 45 minutes so we got into the city a little before 11.  From the train station it was about a 5-10 minute walk to Darling Harbour.  There are tons of bars and night clubs around Darling Harbour and it's really a pretty awesome place to go out.  We started at one bar that looked promising but after a $10 cover and a small dance floor littered with 35+ we knew it wasn't the right place to spend the night. 

Fountain in Hornsby

 So we moved along and found another place called Pontoon, which looked very big and lively so we waited on line, and then paid a $25 cover!!  It was a pretty cool bar though, with half inside and half outside and two different DJs.  We did feel a little out of place though as the bar had to be at least 80-85% Asian.  Nonetheless it was a very fun and successful first night out in Sydney.  We took a bus back home which was surprisingly easy to navigate and everyone was well behaved and calm which was surprising for a bus at 2:30-3 in the morning.

Along the Pedestrian Bridge in Darling Harbour after our night out.

School begins on Monday, so that will be a new and fun experience to write about!

-Andrew

Aussie Words

Swimmers - Bathing Suit

Chemist - Pharmacist 

 

Days 13 & 14 - My First Taste of Kangaroo and Lots of Rain

After about 10 days of perfect sunny weather and temperatures in the 70s, we had two days of straight heavy rain.  There was some major flooding around the Sydney area and I think we ended up with over 4 inches of rain or so during the two days.  That was fine though as I was able to finish my portfolio (last major assignment for Penn St) which I just submitted!  So all was not lost during the last two days.

I also had my first taste of kangaroo, I actually ate it!!  We had kangaroo steaks for dinner on Tuesday.  I must say it was pretty good.  It's a very rich and tender steak, which is apparently very good for you.  It kind of reminded me of a skirt steak, but it was delicious.  It is a bit weird to eat the national symbol of the country, but hey it tasted good!

We have a barbecue planned on Friday at one of Bobby and Maddie's friends houses near the beach, and then two nights out on city on Friday and Saturday which should be an adventure.  Then teaching finally begins on Monday!

-Andrew

Aussie Words

Potato Gems - Tater Tots

Days 11 & 12 - Finishing up PSU work, Food and Money in Australia

The past few days have been a bit of reprieve and some relaxation from a lot of the running around I had been doing.  It's the last week before school starts, so I've been finishing up all the things I have to do for Penn State, like finish my portfolio, order a cap and gown, and finalize the paperwork I need to so I can walk at graduation in August.  It's a bit boring, but I want to get it all done this week before school starts.  I was able to watch the entire Devils game the other day on my computer on a pretty good stream which was nice, even though they lost.  We have had some games live on TV here but unfortunately no Devils games. 

The food here is really not different from back home at all.  Bobby made a grilled garlic calamari dish the other day which was sensational.  Apparently the trick to keeping calamari tender is to marinate it in kiwi juice for about two hours, and wow did it work.  It was the most tender calamari I have ever had in my life, so next time you cook calamari put in kiwi juice first!  I tried a little bit of Vegemite the other day and it was pretty awful, so I don't think I'll be eating that again but I figured I should try it.  Also, they eat kangaroo here, but we haven't eaten it yet.  I'm told it tastes like a very rich steak, so that will be something to try in the future. 

Sunset through the trees on another nice night

Money here is obviously a bit different than in the U.S.  They don't have pennies here and lowest coin is a 5 cent piece.  That gets a bit confusing sometimes as they will round off if they don't have exact change.  Also, the lowest domination of bills is a $5, so there is no $1 or $2 bill but they do have them in coin form.  The coins they have are 5 cent, 10, 20, 50, $1 and $2 while the bills are $5, $10, $20, $50, $100.  The bills are also much more colorful and the coins all have Queen Elizabeth II on them. 

$5 bill with a $2 coin in the top left corner and 50 cent piece in the bottom right

Later in the week I think we are going to go to the Koala Park where you can play with the kangaroos and koalas so that should be fun and a bit more exciting, and Brittany and I are also going to spend a night or two out in downtown Sydney which should also be an adventure. 

-Andrew

Aussie Words

 Bikkie - Cracker or sometimes a cookie

Barrack - To root or cheer for a team

Days 9 & 10 - Driving around Sydney, Day at the Races

The track at Royal Randwick

Friday and especially Saturday were very eventful and exciting days.  On Friday, I spent most of the day with Bobby helping him finish up a job he was doing in Manly.  After first stopping at a place to the west of Sydney we took a really nice drive through the actual city of Sydney and then to Manly.  It really is a nice area down there, even if it is a bit busy.  Later on Friday, I went to spend a weekend with a teacher at the school I'll be teaching at.  We had a very nice Morrocan style dinner.

Driving through The Spit, another awesome part of Sydney

The real fun however came on Saturday when we went to Royal Randwick, a major horse track in Sydney.  Unlike in the U.S. where the major races on ran on dirt, all the horse racing in Australia is done on turf.  Saturday was also one of the major racing days in Australia, highlighted by the Australian Derby which is 1.5 mile run around the track.  It was quite an experience to be there, as the the patrons were dressed in attire more suitable for a royal wedding than the horse racing I'm used to back home.  There were tons of big hats, small dresses, and suits for the men.  I did feel slightly under-dressed in my khakis and pink button-down, especially cause it was black and white day and almost everyone was wearing that!

A typical hat and attire on race day

My betting at the race track didn't go exactly as planned, as there were 9 races during the day and I only came out victorious in 1.  Thankfully, it was the last race of the day and I was able to recoup most of my winnings and leave on a good note.  I am still a little bitter because in the big race of the day, the Australian Derby my horse (Polish Knight) was winning for most of the home stretch only to get nipped out by a nose at the finish line.  

At the finish line of the Australian Derby, Ethiopia (#11) edged out my horse in the orange along the rail.

After the horse race we took a bus back to the center of Sydney, which is only about a 5-10 minute drive from Randwick.  We went to a local bar there to watch a Rubgy League game.  I'm pretty good with the rules of Rugby League after seeing a few games, as well as the AFL (Aussie Rules Football) which I had seen a few times on TV back home, but I don't think I've seen a Rugby Union game yet which is a bit different.  It was fun to watch the game, but unfortunately for the teacher I was with her team lost a close game.  After that we went into the Chinatown district for dinner for some authentic Chinese food which was very good.  Following dinner we traveled back to the suburb where her apartment his spent a little time at a local bar and then went home after another fun bet exhausting day in Sydney!


-Andrew

Aussie Words

Serviettes - Napkins

Tomato Sauce - Ketchup