Week Two

This week as you can imagine began very belatedly as with Easter Monday, ANZAC Day and the extra public holiday, school didn't begin until Wednesday. The same will happen this week as well for us in the NT, with Monday being a very English celebration of May Day. I hope to see some young, fresh lass' skipping around a maypole, however something tells me that is highly unlikely in Warruwi.

Anyway I digress, so Monday and Tuesday last week were filled with the adventures of fishing with Louie. However yet again, after many hours of standing and driving around to different location and watching the magnificent sunsets we see on Warruwi, we failed to catch anything. This led to the facebook status which I am actually beginnning to believe, 'fishing is a euphemism for standing by the water and watching the sunset.' Actually I think one of the teacher's felt a twinge sorry for us (he pulled his boat up next to us on the shore and from the tinny's depths pulled out a shark, which strongly contrasted with our dismal efforts), so he gave us a couple of frozen fish that he had a caught a few days ago. Jen tells me that they were delicious.

Well I have also just figured out that I can add photos onto this blog, so below is some happy snaps of our fishing adventures from Tuesday.

I should probably also mention that even up here in Paradise, there were celebrations for ANZAC Day. Despite having no bugal to play the mournful last post, no soldier to relate his exploits or anyone to march down the 'main street,' a dawn service was held. After a prayer from the indigenous pastor, it ended with the congregation going down the beach to watch the sunrise. I think this effort demonstrates that despite being so geographically distant and having the huge cultural (including language) divide, that nationalism can connect a people. I'm sure those who have done my course, could of course present a different viewpoint, but this is surely evidence that I remain in Australia.

When school finally did begin for the week we were initially back on kitchen duty. YUCK! So we worked on the food, preparing the five meals a day for the students and then ran back to the classroom to do our teacher's aiding and one-on-one tutoring. Luckily by Friday the school had organised another girl to come in and work solely in the kitchen. This provided us with much relief and meant that from next week on we can concentrate on our tutoring program. My mission for this weekend is to find or make a Ben Ten easy-to-read book for a couple of students who love the damned cartoon. Did you know that even up here there's massive Bieber Fever? By living up here I was definitely under the misconception that I was going to avoid some of the tween culture. Major fail.

I have also decided to concentrate my ample time on becoming fitter. Oh, I remember, (read in a whimsical tone) the days when I was fit enough to climb the 4 day Inca Trail in heights of 4200m above sea level, with limited oxygen, Believe it or not that was only last year. Now due to work and commuting duties, I have become excessively round and unfit. So with the guidence of online 'get fit' websites and Danielle I have embarked on a fitness program. On Wednesday I did cardio fitness Zumba with Jen and another teacher, (the kids looked through the window and laughed at us and continued to do so the next day). On Thursday we played badminton and on Friday had a cycling trip. Yesterday I ran, did body weight exercises and a session of yoga. Today, not sure but am thinking its going to be cycling this afternoon. It's hard exercising here though simply because it is so hot all of the time. And then in the evenings you have to watch out for dogs.

Well I think that brings you up to the present, what else can I say? I'm having an awesome time here, surrounded by a great community and an almost pristine environment. At the moment, I'm sitting at a table under the shade of a tree watching birds search for food. A light sea breeze is taking the intensity off the 30 degree heat, the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky. Happy Sunday morning!

P.S. Croc watch has seen no crocs this week. Dammit.