Rumblings From Down Under - The Final Instalment

As this is my last post from down under on this journey to Australia, I thought I'd give you a view from down under:

The Australian White Pelican was just one of the fascinating birds we saw on the trip. The fact that these large birds can sleep high above on the lamp post perch meant we always looked up on the boardwalk.

I’m writing this final installment as I sit on the plane making the long journey (15 hours) home and reflecting on a wonderful month in Australia. From the outstanding organization of the workshops by the team at Hawker Brownlow to the warmth and hospitality of the people we met, it was thoroughly enjoyable. We got to meet with old friends that we made on their teacher exchange to Canada when I looked like this (30 years has produced some changes!):

and we got to see some things for the very first time like kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras.

It’s definitely not the place to be if you have a fear of spiders or snakes, as even the “harmless” ones can be pretty intimidating like this Huntsman spider

or the carpet python snake we saw on our walk that is not poisonous but does possess 50 to 60 sharp teeth!

It took most of the month to get used to seeing drivers sit on the “wrong” side of the car. We got so good at it that my wife was startled to see a car commercial on the plane with the driver in the “right” seat. Next time we’ll take the plunge and rent a car; although it was nice not having to worry about that responsibility during the trip.

We also got accustomed to “Aussie-speak” which is the penchant for shortening words like university to uni, Christmas to chrissie, and mosquitoes to mozzies. This includes an extensive list of words. Our friends jokingly shared with us that this was to avoid having your mouth open for longer periods of time thereby allowing more flies to get in. Oh, by the way, the flies are annoying!

One other thing we easily adapted to was the warm weather. It was no challenge to get used to temperatures in the 30s but a real challenge to land in Vancouver at 7:30 and have to scrape the ice off the windows! Heading east for the next two weeks will get me re-acclimatized to the winter chills ahead. 

As much as this was an amazing month, there's nothing better than being home with family and friends for the best holiday season of the year. We're looking forward to Christmas with a full house, full hearts, and the need for warm clothes.

Rumblings From Down Under Week 3

The third week of my journey to Australia is complete and it’s also signaled the end of my workshops. I did four two-day workshops in various locations and was thrilled with the response. This last week also provided some great insights.

The week began in Ballarat and I worked with folks at the Catholic Diocese level and with a team from St. Thomas More. It was reaffirming to see the passion and commitment to student success and the role teachers played in ensuring this.

One of the absolute constants that has been evident during my visits has been the excellent support and hospitality provided by colleagues. I have been the benefactor of people wanting to ensure a positive and educational experience for my wife and I at each stop. Ballarat was no different. After a great meal we were taken on a tour of the city. As darkness fell it was difficult to see the path of the trail we were taking to get to a good viewing spot of the town below. Their cell phone flashlights were guiding my wife and my colleague while I was stumbling in the darkness, trusting their view that all would be fine. It wasn’t until we got back to the car and somebody noticed a rank odor that we realized a problem. One person had stepped in it and the evidence was now in the vehicle. It was awesome to have to get out and find a way to clean my dress shoes! I otherwise thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

The week concluded in Yamba with high temperatures (it’s going to be tough to go back home) and high energy. This was the largest group of the four and they had a wide range of experience and knowledge that really drove my learning. It was also very humbling to be invited to share some social time with a group of colleagues.

I have learned many fascinating things during my time in Australia. One is about the wildlife. Perhaps the most unique fact concerns the wombat. They have cube-shaped poop! Wombat poop is square. They mark their territories by defecating, and it’s thought that the shape of their poop keeps it from rolling away. Growing up I was always told that you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole. Apparently going the other way is possible!

I have also come to realize that the single biggest threat to life in Australia is the breakfast toaster. This machine has had, in all seven hotels I’ve stayed in, more warning signs than any other device I’ve ever encountered! From directions on how to place your bread (horizontal not vertical) to cautions about leaving children unattended by the machines or placing the wrong bread form (no toasting croissants), this machine has terrorized Aussies beyond any other invented by mankind. I considered myself fortunate to have been able to toast my raisin bread each morning!

As we enjoy a final week in this great country relaxing in the Wollongong area with friends, we know the journey home will be exciting (because we are getting home to family and friends) and a little sad (because we'll be leaving behind many new friends made and old ones rediscovered). G'day!

Week 2 Rumblings From Down Under

Our journey shifted to Melbourne and we arrived as more horse racing was in full swing. It has been a revelation to see how the sport of kings captivates this country for a week. From the high fashion to the crowds in every eating (and drinking) establishment, the country is preoccupied. As I thought about the first day we arrived in Sydney and the scene we saw, the only similar experience I could think of was the Olympic Gold Medal game between Canada and the USA at the 2010 games in Vancouver. Just as then, the crowd here was glued to their televisions as the Melbourne Cup race was underway. You could hear the roar as the race concluded, and just as Sidney Crosby became an icon for all Canadians from that moment forward, so too has Michelle Payne become an inspiration for future jockeys.

We also arrived to Melbourne as another big event was occurring - Sexpo! The Health, Sexuality and Lifestyle Exhibition is the world’s largest adult exhibition and is designed to provide a fun and vibrant atmosphere for all adults. According to their ads, Sexpo is not just about sex, it’s about fun and the celebration of all lifestyles and sexualities. While the horse races provided all kinds of examples of fashionable head accessories, this event was rife with all kinds of interesting characters entering and exiting the event.

This was also the week where my work began and it started with a two day workshop in Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula. It was great to see how the message connects with colleagues here, and how the successes and challenges facing schools are comparable. We also saw our first kangaroo while touring at the end of the day and visiting Arthur's Seat (yup, you read that right!). We also saw penguins when we went back to Melbourne (at St. Kilda's pier) and that began many more cool animal sightings over the rest of the week.

The second two day workshop took place in Pokolbin and we stayed at the Cypress Lakes golf resort or, as we came to know it, kangaroo central! We also saw wallabies and kookaburras. The wacky weather also followed us as we had brilliant sunshine, torrential downpours, and hail. The area of the country, Hunter Valley, is also home to over 600 estate wineries and it was important to help keep the local economy afloat by sampling a few of them. Early reviews indicate that they do a fine job with the wines here!

The next week will begin with the third of four workshops, in Ballarat (home of the aforementioned Michelle Payne) and end with the last workshop, in Yamba. It's been great to explore lots of Australia and share some of it with you. Thanks for reading!

Rumblings From Down Under

The weekend of our first week in Australia is upon us and it seems time has flown by. Granted, we lost the Monday in flight but it still seems like the first few days have evaporated (unlike the rain, but more on that below). We arrived to Sydney and our taxi ride from the airport gave us a chance to see many finely dressed men and women. Just as we were thinking that Sydney does not do casual, our driver let us know the Melbourne Cup horse race was on that day and how it was a day for the entire nation to enjoy. While the men were in their suits, the women really ruled the day as we saw many creative fascinators (yes, it’s a real word!) and no two alike. This picture gives an idea to those not familiar with such finery:

The really exciting news about the horse race was that a female jockey won for the first time in the history of the event. It made the headlines everywhere as she rode a 100 to 1 long shot to a first place finish and smashed glass ceilings in the process.

We did manage to fight any attempts to sleep but I am certain my brain was still a bit fuzzy the next morning as we went to breakfast. I was enjoying our fare and decided to place some of the delicious jelly on the toast I was about to consume, Vegemite is not jelly! It is not tasty! It is a dark brown Australian food paste made from leftover brewers' yeast extract and there’s a reason why it should not be consumed besides being leftover yeast extract – it tastes horrible!

It became apparent early on in our walks that the birds in the area were very different from what we had seen back home. The photos below are just some of the examples and we’d love to have any of them identified.

As for the rain, I was doing my best “Annie” each night. You know, “The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun!” but it didn’t help. As we were leaving Sydney, it was very sunny and the warm weather was settling in. As we landed in Melbourne, the rain landed with us. I am convinced that this is just a short-term concern. “Tomorrow, tomorrow…”

More to come as this adventure continues. Thanks for following along.