farewell, Darwin

the table was so adorable

well, today's the day. I leave Darwin for Sydney this afternoon. I'll be there for about a week before heading home to Michigan on Boxing Day. bittersweet is a word that a lot of people use when describing positive change, but at this juncture, I'm struggling to see the sweet. I guess I have to look at it this way: I'm seizing the opportunity to see another city in this beautiful country before I leave for the States. I've met the most gracious, fun-loving people in Darwin, and it didn't take long for me to feel like I have a real home here, and I always will. I'm going to miss Kaye, Roger, Blake and Fran like crazy.

the most adorable decorations in the world

digging in!

I made a few frantic attempts last night to see the people I'd grown to love before I was off for good, but some fell through of course. I felt like I've finally gotten closer to some of the people I met, and now I'm off. I think I just got so sad about leaving and really wanted to see everyone one more time before I left. even the people who I didn't spend heaps of time with made huge impacts on me, and I think I was panicking a bit at the thought of leaving them.  it's a hard thing to do, leaving someplace that you consider home, for an undetermined length of time.

Kaye as Santa :)

lots of champagne-fueled fun

Sunday roast last night was beautiful. we had Christmas decorations, delicious food, and the best company. Kaye and Fran played Santa and we listened to Santa Koala about a thousand times over and had a few good laughs. saying goodbye to them all was absolutely heartbreaking. after dinner, Blake took us out to East Point one last time so Elissa could see the wallabies. we managed to spot a croc as well.

♥

saying goodbye to Blake was terrible. he has been such a big part of my life here, and he didn't even live in the house this time when Kaye and Roger had students living with them, so I can only imagine how hard it was for the others. I got into the house and just fell apart. today has been worse. I have been fighting the tears on and off all day just thinking about leaving Kaye and Roger. sometimes I can't be bothered to fight them at all. they have been so good to us, spoiled us, and made us feel comfortable and at home ever since we arrived, and I love them for it. the same goes for Blake, his mates, and the teachers at Wanguri. it's difficult to cope with the fact that things are changing. this city and the people I have met here will be in my heart and in my life forever, that's for sure.

ah, enough sap for one day I suppose. until we meet again, Darwin.

lessons learned and colloquialisms pt.4

to call in = to drop by (ex: I'm going to call in to Hannah's house after work today)
teddy = any stuffed animal
chook = chicken
whinging/grizzling = complaining
grizzlebum = a complainer (ha!)

• there is a slightly more inappropriate version of this that I like a lot more

"Good girl!"/"Good boy!" = a common praise
"Good on you!" = "Good for you!"/"Well done!"
bin = trash can

• I had an embarrassing moment using this word inappropriately in class

tick = checkmark
diary = planner
serviette = dinner napkin
capsicum = bell pepper
doona = quilt
howling = crying
flannel = washcloth
togs/bathers/swimmers = swim suit
gutted = devastated
stuffed = tired
stuffed up/mucked up = messed up, made a mistake
Far out! = "No way!"/"I can't believe it!" - used the same way we might have used it in the '80s :) they say it all the time!
"_____ as" = adding "as" after something is the same as adding "very" before it

• eg "Work today was busy as!" or "Those gift boxes are cute as!"

icy block = ice pack
popper = juice box
hoover = vacuum cleaner

• if you feel like there's a bug crawling on you, there's probably a bug crawling on you.
• sunscreen. lots of it. all the time.
• everyone will go out on a limb for everyone else. everyone is so helpful and nice, it's impossible not to love it here.
• I've only been here for 5 weeks, but I see someone I know almost every time I go out. students, teachers, acquaintances... and it doesn't matter whether it's at the market at 8am or when I'm out having drinks past midnight, I always see someone I know. sometimes the same person twice in one day. at completely difference places, hours later. it's incredible.
• drinking in the staff room at school (albeit after school lets out) is acceptable, and encouraged.
• everyone was right, Vegemite is an acquired taste. I've tried it 4 more times since my initial Vegemite post. I have to admit, I had a craving for it the other morning. I should get citizenship for this.

epic weekend: Sunday

ciao, Darwin!

Sunday was a late(ish) morning after the night we had. I went from dead asleep to wide awake at about 8:30 am. somehow, Blake had already been to the market, and had come to the house to hang out. I will never know how he does it.

after IMing my parents a little and having some breakfast, I got a hold a Carlee, and we planned to catch a noon ferry out to Mandorah, just across the harbour on the Cox Peninsula.

the ferry itself was wonderful. I love being out on the water. despite the fact that I had to be careful not to flash anyone, skirts and boats are the best combination. we spent less that 20 minutes on the water each way, but I think I can speak for both of us when I say we loved every second.

we could see the pub from the Mandorah jetty, so we started our trek. we bypassed the footpath to walk on the beach. I felt like I was on an island. the water was so beautiful, and the rocks along the shore were amazing. Carlee and I returned to Darwin with heavier handbags due to our rock collecting, but it was well worth it.

drinks were a must after we made it to the pub, and girly ones at that. we sat with our Bacardi Breezers (yes, I said it), and enjoyed the live music, which was perfectly unique. it made me feel moreso like I was on an island, and I loved it.

after we bottomed out on our drinks, we got BLTs for lunch. I haven't had a BLT for years, and it was sublime. straight after lunch we changed into our swimmers to take a dip in the pool (no waiting an hour for us). it was SO hot out and it felt great to cool off for a little while.

we dried off in the sun and listened to some more good vibes from the band before heading back across the beach to catch the ferry, this time along the water. it would have been interesting to explore Mandorah in a bit more depth, but staying right on the beach made for an absolutely perfect day.

later on, we had a delicious Sunday roast - Carlee's last one! it was also Martin's homecoming from his holiday in Columbia. I got about a hundred billion new mozzie bites, but I was likely having too much fun to notice. note to self: bring vats of sunscreen and mozzie repellant to Bali!

epic weekend: Saturday

this past weekend was by far the best I've had in Darwin yet. thanks to our willingness to explore and Carlee's expert time management skills (we had an itinerary and everything!) we hit up a few of the must-see Darwin landmarks.

Saturday morning started early with a trip to Parap market. I love going to the market. I make a point to go to the farmers' market in GR every weekend, and going to the markets here really makes me feel at home. the point of the market this week, however, was to find the guy selling hot sauce that we tasted on our very first trip to Parap. we haven't been able to find him for weeks, and our luck didn't change this week. we've been all around to different markets, looking for him. I will find him before I leave!

from there, we walked to the museum. it was a friendly 2.5 km - not too bad. the museum was really interesting, way too good to be free. lots of aboriginal art, and animals native to the NT, but the cyclone tracy exhibit was my favorite. it was so sad to see all the damage it caused and lives it destroyed, but it was so fascinating at the same time.

we also saw Sweetheart, a 5.1 m saltwater croc that attacked many boats on the Finnis River. they wanted to capture him because he was hurting people, but he drowned accidentally. so they stuffed him and threw him in the museum. the NT's infamous immortal croc.

after we soaked up all the air con we could, we ventured out again on a 1.5 km walk to the casino. I spent $2 and won $3 before security kicked us out for not having our passports. really? if the bars accept my Michigan ID, why can't a casino? ah well, we got some free coffee out of it anyway.

once the fuzz gave us the boot, we caught a bus to the wave pool (too far to walk and it was HOT). I honestly did not see what the big deal about a wave pool was before we went (we have one in Michigan that I used to go to all the time as a kid), but it was really relaxing, and we ended up having a lot of fun.

for dinner, Kaye, Roger, Fran, Carlee, Hannah and I went to the wharf. I knew that I loved barramundi since we had it at a Sunday roast, but slap some breading on it and fry it up, and I'm in heaven (how American of me, no?). I also learned that when a burger comes with "salad," it means they put the "salad" on the burger. at any rate, it was such a great meal. I also discovered that I love Cooper's pale ale. no beer will ever replace Michigan beers in my heart (which, incidentally, leads to my bloodstream), but we're getting closer.

after dinner, Fran dropped Carlee and I off at a bar, and we hung out downtown for a while. we met some very drunk nice locals and enjoyed their company for a while before hopping bars and meeting up with Blake. he and his friends Alycea and Tait took us to a club where we had a great time, had a few drinks and literally danced the night away. it was a really great night, and just what the doctor ordered after a long week at school.

school (and life) lately

making a reindeer glyph

paper snowflakes!

still no haircut. the mullet lives on.

school has been pretty fun the past few days. each teacher in our module planned a couple Christmas craft activities, and then all of our classes spend a good chunk of the day doing them all. I had my groups cutting paper snowflakes and making a reindeer glyph. they loved them both, but I think the paper snowflakes won. it doesn't snow in the NT, so I thought I'd hang a few that the kids leave behind in the windows for funsies.

should've bought this flowery butterfly
headband when I had the chance!

today we had an assembly. I was so proud of myself - I sang along with the national anthem! the first two assemblies, I just stood quietly, but it's so weird just standing there when everyone else sang. soo I made a goal to learn it by next assembly, and I did it!

best. cereal. EVER.

this week, we also drew names for Kris Kringle (Secret Santa)! the kids said that they wanted teachers' names in too, so I'm buying a Christmas gift for one of my students, and one of them is buying one for me :) it's going to be quite interesting to see what the kids come up with, and I'm sure their gifts will be fantastic.

I definitely feel like I have more authority as a teacher, and the kids are responding much better to me. I even have a few that are quite clingy. I know that I am getting attached to them, and it will be hard to say goodbye in a couple weeks.

funny NT weather - sunny here, stormy there

Hannah and I went to Casuarina after school today to send some post cards home. I sent one to my grandma and one to my 1st/2nd grade class in Grand Rapids, and Hannah sent a bunch to friends and family. while she was writing her cards, I bought a skirt (whoops), and then we walked around before catching the bus.

a fun panorama of Wangi that I forgot to post before :)

well, we've got a pretty jam-packed weekend, so I'm sure I'll have heaps to write about (not to mention a whole mess of photos) on Sunday or Monday.

til then! ♥

ah, life

Sammy can get the mail...

my god, I need a haircut. it's going all Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men on me. Jordan even noticed that my hair was getting long the last time we talked, and I only had short hair for a week or two before I left, so it must be true. although, I'm sure I'm blending in as a local with this awesome mullet I'm growing out. the only difference is that the locals aren't ashamed of their mullets.

...and read it! :)

other than my long hair conundrum, everything has been pretty great. my sunburn is healing, and we are planning some fun adventures.

two nights ago, Carlee and I booked our flight and hotel in BALI! we are so excited. it's only a short plane ride away (about 2 hours), so we figured we might as well go while we're here! we leave on Dec 9th and return on the 12th. it's just so amazing to me that I left the States never having traveled beyond the North American continent (and I've only spent time in...8 states? and only one Canadian province!), and I'll be returning having lived in Australia and traveled to Southeast Asia. incredible.

pearl ring I bought at the market

as for school, I'm feeling like a bit of a slacker, especially after having so much responsibility in GR, but it's the end of the school year and everything is so crazy. Mara is always thanking me for my help and hard work, so that helps me feel like less of a deadbeat. I plan on teaching about Christmas soon, and doing some daily punctuation lessons starting tomorrow, because they really struggle with it in their writing.

I just hope I don't stuff it up.

camping in Litchfield: not for the faint of heart

I'm so glad that we are using our weekends wisely these days. we went to Litchfield National Park on Friday, and camped overnight. it was fabulous. I might sound lame, but I actually learned a lot. Blake was, of course, the best guide. he showed us all the best places. when we drove in, there were literally termite mounds as far as the eye could see. the one in the photo was at least 15 feet tall, and very skinny. the termites build them that way so they get the least amount of direct sunlight possible. ah, evolution.

Cascade falls

our first stop was Cascade Falls. we hiked UPHILL for what seemed like forever. the sound of the falls alone was almost enough to make me jump with joy (though jumping would be quite impossible because my legs were JELLY at this point). all the sweat and misery was totally worth it. we changed into our bathers and climbed over slippery rock after slippery rock to reach the falls. as soon as we sat down under the water, we realized that our hands were covered in little bitty leeches, but we couldn't be bothered. the falls were amazing, and it was most welcome, leeches and all, after all it took to get there.

just hanging out on a waterfall, no biggie

Wangi falls

next, we visited Wangi Falls, which we couldn't swim in due to the presence of the very elusive snapping gecko. they were beautiful from afar, anyway. we had the opportunity to hike to the top of the falls, but it was quite a long way. at least is was for someone like me (aka terribly unfit).

we had a lunch break before hopping over to Buley Rockhole for a swim. there were TONS of people, and it was such a great spot. the water was cold and deep enough to swim around a bit. I could have sat there all day, but we didn't want to wait long enough for the mozzies to attack, so we went back to camp. it was here that I discovered that I had gotten a slight sunburn. a bit of lotion, a lot of water, and a couple Panadol, and I was right as rain.

home sweet campsite

Florence falls {photo © Carlee}

at the campsite, Blake cooked up some snags and steak for dinner. so delicious! I swear, food tastes so much better over a campfire after a long day of hiking and swimming. we chatted and had some beers for a while (mozzie-free!) before calling it a night.

the next morning, I woke up bright and early to the smell of breakfast cooking, and Hannah and Carlee woke up soon after. once again, a fantastic meal. bacon and eggs never tasted so good.



standing on a rock! {photo © Carlee}

soon after breakfast, we packed up camp and headed off to Florence Falls. this was my favorite spot by far. two waterfalls emptying into a huge rock hole. the swimming was perfect, and the company was wonderful. the girls and I swam out under one of the falls and jumped off the rocks, and had a ball. I could have stayed there for days on end.

after a couple hours of swimming, we moved on to Tolmer Falls. there was a viewing platform, but no swimming, because they are protecting a cave where endangered bats live. we spent a while taking in the last leg of our Litchfield trip before heading home. Blake stopped for petrol and surprised us some freeze pops which were just what we needed after basking in the heat all weekend.



Tolmer falls, photo © Hannah

I am so excited that we finally got to go to Litchfield (thanks to Blake)! I only wish we had time to visit Kakadu during our stay. it's much farther away, and much larger and more remote. for now, Litchfield will do. despite the sunburn, and having more flies in my face than I care to acknowledge, this weekend couldn't have been more perfect.

I couldn't keep my camera away from all the beautiful rocks we saw in the park, so here are a few photos. I was also amazed how plants and trees grew straight out of the rocks! incredible.

Thanksgiving at last!

they might have laughed, but they loved the hat

Aussie mum & dad!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! it's Thanksgiving in the States now. I just got done talking to my parents. I had to let them go because they had to take the turkey out of the oven! yesterday at school, I taught about Thanksgiving. I talked about why we celebrate, the first Thanksgiving, and showed lots of photos of food, including my family's own Thanksgiving spreads. the kids loved it. they were practically salivating, and I taught it right after lunch. it was wonderful how interested they truly were. though teaching here has at times been rough, days like yesterday really makes it all worth it.

family photo :)

since my speech at dinner was less than eloquent and mostly drunken, I'll try it again. this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for so much. I was given a unique opportunity to travel this semester, and I'm thankful that I actually had the balls to do it.

ze Americans (photo © Hannah)

I definitely couldn't ask for a better place to live while I'm here. Kaye and Roger have been amazing parents, and I owe them so much. it has really been the experience of a lifetime. of course, my host brother Blake. he has been so generous and obliging in showing us around and taking us out and about since we've arrived. getting to know the NT while I'm here is what I want to do most of all, and Blake has been making that possible for us every step of the way. I'm thankful for Carlee and Hannah, and that we get to share this experience together, and for everyone I've met so far. we always seem to be surrounded by family and friends here and I truly feel at home.

feast!

indication of my night...

I'm more thankful every day for my family back home. my dad, mom, sister and brother. when I was stuck in Cali with the Qantas grounding, they spent what seemed like every waking hour helping me look up flights, call Qantas, reserve tickets, and give moral support through it all. I'm thankful that my parents have been so supportive throughout my travels, even if they didn't initially want me to go. they'll be glad to hear that I'm having the time of my life! I'm thankful for not only their support in my studies and travels, but in everything else that I do. I can always go to them for advice, guidance, and support.

making pumpkin butternut squash
chocolate chip muffins

saying hi to Dad (in my turkey hat!) while Mom cooks :)

though I do have these "Why me?" moments from time to time (eg Qantas and computer viruses, ugh), but I have to realize that I'm very lucky in spite of it all. this Thanksgiving, and this holiday season, I'm finding it easier to look on the bright side, take the bumps in the road in stride, and take pleasure in the little things. while I'm missing the snow and I'm not wearing a sweater or listening to Christmas music, and I'm missing my family more than ever, I know that Thanksgiving dinner was quite perfect, and I'm so grateful that I got to celebrate it with my Aussie family.